By MATT PIKE
The St. Joseph Mustangs won a second game in a row during their three game homestand, beating the Chillicothe Mudcats 9-7, despite a four run rally by Chillicothe between the seventh and eighth innings.
In the first inning, the Mustangs loaded the bases with two outs on three straight singles, before a bases loaded walk to Zack Craft brought in Lafayette alum Brayden Luikart for the first run. Extending the lead, fellow Lafayette alum Jayden Little tripled, driving in Missouri Western's Micah Kobuszewski and Seth WInkler, along with Craft, for a 4-0 lead.
In the third inning, Chillicothe got on the board on a steal of home, but in the fifth inning the Mustangs extended the lead as Little drove in another run, scoring Kobuszewski with an RBI single. In the sixth, the Mudcats again cut into the lead with a two RBI single, but in the bottom half of the inning the Mustangs again drove in four runs, the first as Atchison alum Boston Bruce reached on a fielding error, allowing Isaiah Ketller to come home, making it 6-3.
An RBI single from Luikart kept the scoring going, driving in Benton alum Chris Coy, before a passed ball brought in one more run with Bruce crossing home plate to score. A sacrifice fly from Craft brought in the final run, driving in Luikart. With a 9-3 lead, Chillicothe began to rally in the seventh, scoring on a solo home run and then bringing in another run coming home on a groundout. Trailing by four, the Mudcats added two more in the eighth, again hitting a solo home run and an RBI single to make it 9-7.
Landon Reith came on for the Mustangs in the ninth inning, and retired Chillicothe 1-2-3 to end the game, earning a save. Central alum Owen Foster earned the win in relief, pitching three innings, giving up four runs on five hits with two walks and a strikeout. Foster relieved starter Caden Carter in the fifth, after Carter pitched four innings of two hit ball, giving up one unearned run, while walking four and striking out two.
At the plate, Little was 2-for-4 with a triple and four RBI's. Kobuszewski was also 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, also walking once, while Luikart was 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Bruce was 2-for-5 with an RBI.
The Mustangs are now 4-3 on the season, and are 2-2 in MINK League play, and will wrap up their homestand on Saturday against the St. Joseph Mustangs Alumni. First pitch will be at 7pm at Phil Welch Stadium.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.