PITTSBURG, Kan. – It was a great day for baseball Wednesday afternoon at Al Ortolani Field as the Missouri S&T baseball team opened up a nine-game road swing to close the regular season with a return to Pittsburg State. The Miners (17-20) fell behind early but were able to tie things up shortly thereafter, but the Gorillas (27-17) used some big innings over the middle third of the contest to pull away and stymied a ninth-inning rally attempt to win 12-7.
After two scoreless innings to begin the contest, Pittsburg State struck first with a two-out two-run single down the right field line to take the first lead of the game in the bottom of the third.
S&T managed to answer right back in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of an error as the catcher attempted to throw behind
Garrett Weiner (Alton, IL/Marquette) at first and sailed the throw into right field, where the outfielder fumbled fielding it, allowing
Tommy Ruether (Washington, MO/Washington) to come around from second to score as Weiner ended up standing on third. He scored moments later when
Christian Montes de Oca (El Paso, TX/Franklin) lined a single to center to even the game at 2-2.
Unfortunately for the Miners, things didn't stay tied long as the Gorillas scored four runs in the bottom of the inning on a single and three-run home run to go back on top 6-2. PSU tacked on four more runs over the course of the next two innings to extend their lead to 10-2.
The Green & Gold did get their bats going for a bit in the seventh, as
Cole Hampton (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) grounded out to drive in
Jaden Courtois (Festus, MO/Jefferson) before
Michael Hughes (St. Clair, MO/St. Clair) reached on an infield single to score
Andrew Branson (St. James, MO/St. James) and make it 10-4.
PSU scored single runs in the seventh and eighth to push the lead back to eight at 12-4 before the Miners looked to rally in the ninth.
After a flyout opened the inning, Hampton worked a walk before coming around to score on a pinch hit double off the wall in right center by
Logan Alexander (Olathe, KS/Olathe Northwest). After a
Tate Morrell (Lloydminster, AB/) walk, Ruether single back up the box to load the bases for
Doug Wood (Liberty, MO/Liberty North), who hit a deep sac fly to center that scored Alexander to make it 12-6. An RBI double from
Chase Burgess (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley West) plated Morrell as the Miners eyed the ninth inning comeback, but PSU was able to record the final out to split the season series with a 12-7 win.
Montes de Oca led S&T at the plate, going 2-3 with and an RBI in the game. Seven other Miners recorded a hit in the game and five more drove in run over the course of the action while seven different players crossed home in the game.
Ben Belgrave (Cary, IL/Cary-Grove) (1-2) took the loss in relief, allowing four runs in an inning and a third in relief of starter
Estin McBroom (Monett, MO/Monett). The freshman, making just his third appearance of the season, worked two scoreless innings to open the day before leaving with one out in the third and finishing his day having allowed two runs and striking out one.
Matt Ellingson (Lenexa, KS/Olathe Northwest) and
Chasen Anderson (Moscow Mills, MO/Troy Buchanan) turned in scoreless outings while
Treyton Ruth (Rolla, MO/Rolla),
Kyle Athmer (Breese, IL/Breese Central Community) and
David Kephart (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley Northwest) also saw action over the course of the game.
S&T's nine-game road trip continues Friday as they resume Great Lakes Valley Conference action against Southern Indiana at 1 P.M.
