By MATT PIKE
After a hard fought win for the St. Joseph Mustangs over the Carroll Merchants that went back and forth at Phil Welch Stadium on Saturday night, the Mustangs traveled to Carroll, Iowa and scored a dominating 12-3 victory on Sunday afternoon.
Much like the Merchants did on Saturday, the Mustangs scored six runs before Carroll found their way onto the scoreboard. In the third inning, an RBI double by Lafayette alum Brayden Luikart drove in Savannah alum Truman Bodenhausen for the first St. Joseph run, and Luikart later scored on an RBI single by Dom Felix.
In the fourth innning, Northwest Missouri State's Parker Griffith hit a solo home run to extend the lead. Then in the fifth inning, three more runs scored, with Luikart singling home Darius Freeman, Easton Phillipe scoring when Felix reached first on an error, and Felix later scoring himself on an bases loaded walk to Griffith, giving the Mustangs the 6-0 lead.
The Merchants scored their first two runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning, an RBI single by Cole Schellenberger driving in Brock Moore and then Bryce Higgins scoring as Martin Smith grounded out to third base, cutting the lead to 6-2.
St. Joseph continued to pour the runs on, scoring two runs in both the sixth and the seventh. In the sixth, Freeman scored as Felix reached on a fielders choice, advancing Phillipe to third base, who came around to score on a single by Justin George. In the seventh, a single by Phillipe drove in Freeman for this third run of the game, and Phillipe later scored himself on a sacrifice fly by Luikart.
Leading 10-2, the Mustangs scored the final two runs in the eighth inning, a wild pitch allowing Lafayette alum Jayden Little to score, moving Tyler Gundelfinger to second base, before Gundelfinger scored as Freeman grounded out to first base. In the bottom half of the inning, the Merchants Bradley Soto hit a solo home run for the final score.
Austin Nace earned the win for the Mustangs, pitching 6 1/3 innings and giving up two runs on three hits, striking out three and walking one. At the plate, both Freeman and Phillipe were 2-for-5, each with one RBI and three runs scored, Phillipe walked once, and each stole one base. Felix was 1-for-5 with a walk and three RBI's.
The Mustangs are now 17-2 on the season, 12-1 in the MINK league, and continue their road trip tomorrow traveling to Jefferson City to take on the Jefferson City Renegades.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.