By MATT PIKE
Both teams scored all their runs in the first three innings, but the St. Joseph Mustangs beat the Chillicothe Mudcats 12-2 in a seven inning run rule victory, extending their win streak to eight games.
The Mustangs scored 10 runs through the first two innings, with five in the first and five in the second. In the first inning, a bases loaded walk to Micah Kobuszewski opened the scoring, bringing home Tyler Gundelfinger. The lead extended on a wild pitch scoring Jayden Little, before Carter Belton drove in two runs with a single, driving in Kobuszewski and Seth Winkler. Charles Stevens capped the scoring in the opening inning stealing home for the 5-0 lead.
In the second, Little hit a two run home run to add to the lead, scoring Boston Bruce. Belton drove in his third run of the game on a bases loaded walk, bringing home Winkler, and another wild pitch scored another run for the Mustangs, driving in Kobuszewski. Another bases loaded walk in the inning to Gundelfinger capped the scoring in the top half, letting Stevens cross home plate. In the bottom half, the Mudcats scored one of their two runs when Clayton Eskra scored as Tatsuki Yoshikawa stole second base, making it 10-1.
In the third inning, Kobuszewski singled to drive in Little and a wild pitch scored Winkler for the Mustangs in the top half of the inning. In the bottom half, an RBI single from JP Gonzalez brought home Rafael Calcano to make it 12-2. After the third inning, the Mudcats got a runner as far as third base just once, stranding the runner at third in the sixth inning. The Mustangs also only got a runner as far as third base once more, stranding Little in the fourth inning after he singled and moved to third base on a single by Kobuszewski.
Chris Coy earned the win pitching five innings and giving up two runs, one earned, on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Luke Howard and Caden Carter combined for two hitless innings of relief, giving up three walks, but also striking out three. At the plate, Little was 4-for-5 with a home run and two RBI's, scoring three runs. Belton was 1-for-4 with a walk and three RBI's.
The Mustangs are now 19-12 on the season, 16-11 in the MINK League, and will be in Chillicothe again tomorrow with first pitch at 7:05pm.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.