By MATT PIKE
The St. Joseph Mustangs comeback attempt fell just short, stranding the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning and falling to the Carroll Merchants 11-9 at Phil Welch Stadium.
The Merchants took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, the first run scoring on a throwing error from right fielder Frank Gall, then driving in another run with an RBI double. In the bottom of the second inning the Mustangs cut Carroll's lead to one as Tyler Gundelfinger scored with Chris Coy reaching on a fielders choice. The Merchants added two more runs in the top half of the fourth with a two RBI single to go up 4-1, before St. Joseph rattled off six runs in the bottom half of the inning.
In the bottom half with two outs, Gall hit a three run home run scoring Eden Meyers and Carson Hintz to tie the game. After a walk to Brayden Luikart and a single by Jayden Little the Merchants made a pitching change, and Carson Schrack greeted the reliever with a two RBI double giving the Mustangs their first lead of the game 6-4. An RBI single from Gundelfingers scored Schrack for the final run, and with runners on the corners following a Charles Stevens single, Hintz flew out to end the inning
From there, the Merchants took control of the game, first with a solo home run in the fifth inning cutting the Mustangs lead to two. In the sixth, Carroll trimmed the lead again with an RBI single, before tying things in the seventh and taking the lead on a two run home run. The final three runs came in the eighth, the first on a throwing error from the Mustangs catcher Hintz. An RBI double added one more run, before a wild pitch brought home the final score of the game for Carroll, putting them ahead 11-7.
In the bottom half of the ninth, with two outs, the Mustangs put two runners on after back-to-back walks to Gall and Luikart. Runners were on first and second after a pitching change and an RBI single from Little drove in Gall, who came home on a throwing error from third base. Little stole second and Schrack singled to bring home Luikart to cut the lead to two, but after a hit by pitch on Gundelfinger loaded the bases, Stevens grounded out to second base ending the game.
Landon Jaynes threw six innings giving up six runs on 10 hits with two walks and 11 strikeouts in the loss. At the plate, Gall was 3-for-5 with a double and a home run with three RBI's also walking once. Schrack was 3-for-6 with two doubles and three RBI's. Little was 3-for-6 with a triple and an RBI.
The Mustangs are now 21-14 on the season, 18-13 in the MINK League, and will stay home on Saturday to again host Carroll. First pitch is at 7pm.
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