By MATT PIKE
The St. Joseph Mustangs split a doubleheader in Nevada against the Griffons, winning game one in comeback fashion behind four unanswered runs in the final two innings, winning 5-3, and falling in game two 8-6, after a big second inning by Nevada.
The Mustangs took the lead in the first inning as Darius Freeman hit a solo home run. Northwest Missouri State’s Jaren Guck held that lead through his three innings on the mound before being replaced by East Buchanan alum Bronco Whitt in the fourth inning, where Nevada would tie up the game.
In the fourth, the Griffons scored on an RBI double by Bryce Humphrey, driving in Cole Collins. Trouble continued for Whitt in the fifth as Nevada took the lead, a sacrifice fly by Griffin DuVall scoring Nick Kaelin, and then extended the lead as Xander Miller came home on an RBI single by Trae Burton that put the Griffons up 3-1.
In the sixth inning, the Mustangs backed Whitt up to at least secure him a no decision, first tying the game with one swing of the bat as Dom Felix doubled driving in Freeman and Trevor McCollum, but then Whitt was set up for the win as St. Joseph took the lead on a ground out by Lafayette alum Jayden Little, scoring Felix. In the final frame, Freeman extended the lead with his second home run of the game.
Whitt earned the win, pitching three innings and giving up three runs on five hits while striking out three. East Buchanan alum Gage Busby earned the save pitching the seventh, giving up two hits. At the plate, Freeman was 4-for-4 in the opener with two home runs, a stolen base, and two RBIs. Felix was 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
In game two, The Mustangs again took the lead in the first inning, this time scoring four runs right away. Freeman was responsible for getting the scoring started once again, this time with an RBI double, driving in Bishop LeBlond alum Frank Gall, before Freeman scored on a two run home run by Lafayette alum Brayden Luikart. On a wild pitch, Justin George scored the final run of the frame.
The Griffons scored one run in the bottom of the first thanks to a wild pitch from Northwest Missouri State’s Andrew Clark, Collins moving to third on the wild pitch, but then scoring on an error by Northwest Missouri State’s Parker Griffith. Nevada blew the doors open in the second inning with a six run frame to take the lead. A bases loaded walk from Clark to Jordan Rowe scored Rhett Hays, and an RBI single from Sam Schmidt drove in Cal Cosens to cut the lead to one.
The Griffons took the lead with a two RBI single by Hunter Doyle, bringing home Duvall and Rowe, another run scoring as Schmidt came in from third on an error by Freeman. Doyle scored the final run of the inning on a wild pitch from Clark, putting Nevada up on the Mustangs going into the third inning 7-4.
St. Joseph would cut the lead to one run in the fifth inning on RBI singles from Freeman and George, Freeman driving in Savannah alum Truman Bodenhausen with Gall being thrown out at home, and George driving in Freeman. In the sixth, Nevada scored their final run as Doyle singled home Humphrey.
Clark took the loss in game two, pitching 1 2/3 innings and giving up seven runs, five earned, on three hits while striking out three and walking six. At the plate, Freeman again led the way going 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base, and two RBIs. Luikart was 1-for-3 with the home run, a stolen base, and two RBIs.
The Mustangs are now 32-7 on the season and 26-6 in the MINK League. They wrap up the road trip on Thursday in Clarinda against the Clarinda A’s with first pitch at 7pm. St. Joseph will play their final two games of the regular season at home on Friday and Saturday.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.
