SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Miners went 1-1 in baseball today, winning the first game against Drury 11-5 but dropping the second 2-14. Their win was their first in conference play this season.
Game 1: Miners 11, Panthers 5
After failing to score in yesterday's game, the Miners wasted no time in putting runs on the board in game one. They scored three in the top of the first inning that included hits by
Sam Monroe (Moline, Ill./Moline),
Matt Souza (Escondido, CA/Christian),
Nick Krodinger (DeSoto, MO/DeSoto), and
Tyler Prince (Mexico, MO/Mexico). Four more hits in the top of the second would bring three more runs home for the Miners as they went up 6-0. The starting pitcher for game one was
Ethan Morrow (Lenexa, KS/Shawnee Mission West), who got through the first two innings in seven at bats without giving up a hit.
In the top of the third, a stolen base by Prince led to a throwing error by Drury's catcher that allowed Prince to come home and extended S&T's lead to 7-0. The bottom of the third was rockier than the first two for Morrow, as he put the first batter on base off a hit by pitch and eventually gave up two runs on a single to center field and a bases loaded HBP, resulting in a 7-2 game. After a fourth inning that didn't see anyone get on base for either team, scoring resumed in the fifth, with each team scoring one run in the inning as both starting pitchers gave way to replacements.
Jake Schisler (Quincy, IL/Quincy Notre Dame) was Morrow's replacement, and he would pitch the remainder of the game.
With fresh pitchers on the mound for both teams, the sixth inning was a scoreless one. Schisler only faced three batters in the bottom of the inning, recording a strikeout to send the seven-inning game to its last inning. The top of the seventh saw the Panthers go through three pitchers, bringing their game's total to six, as they gave up another four hits and three runs to the Miners. Up 11-3, Schisler returned to the mound in hopes of closing out the game to give S&T their first win over a GLVC opponent this season. He gave up a single and a double to the first two batters, leading to two runs for the Panthers in the next two at bats, but closed the game with a line out and a fly out for an 11-5 S&T win.
With the win, Morrow's record improved to 2-2 on the season. The Miners had four batters that recorded two hits in the game, a number that included
Garrett Weiner (Alton, IL/Marquette) and Souza who each had three RBIs as well.
Game 2: Panthers 14, Miners 2
Three Miners drew walks in the first inning but were unable to record a hit to bring anyone home. Starting Pitcher
Estin McBroom (Monett, MO/Monett) give up a walk and a hit to his first two batters before recording a strikeout. With a runner on third, Drury hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring the first run of the game home, taking a 1-0 lead over S&T that they would hold through a relatively event-free second inning.
Carter Bither (Springfield, MO/Springfield Catholic) started the top of the third off with a triple to right field, setting the Miners up with a runner in scoring position with no outs. Bither would score a short while later off a ground out to second base by Weiner, tying the game at 1-1. The tie game would not last long though, with the Panthers scoring four runs and recording four hits in the bottom of the third, making the game 5-1. The Miners would fail to get a hit in the fourth but did get one on base as Prince was hit by pitch.
After McBroom started the fourth inning off by allowing a homerun and a walk, the Miners would replace him with
Matthew Kaiser (St. Louis, MO/Vianney). Kaiser would get two strikeouts in the inning, but they would be overshadowed by the four runs and three hits that he allowed as the Panthers pulled further ahead. In the top of the fifth, Bither would score S&T's second run of the day as well. He reached base on a single to center field and came home next at bat thanks to a double to left by Monroe.
Trey Kaberline (Gardner, KS/Gardner-Edgerton) took over pitching duties in the fifth, grabbing three straight outs that included a strikeout. Trailing 10-2, the Miners needed to start putting runs on the board. Prince started the inning off right with a single to center field but would be the victim of a fielder's choice forceout at second off
Aiden Cizek's (Wildwood, MO/Lafayette) at bat.
Tommy Ruether (Washington, MO/Washington) would hit a single next, putting runners on first and second for S&T with just one out. Bither came up next and continued his success at the plate with another single, loading the bases for the Miners. Unfortunately, a flyout and a fielder's choice forceout at third ended the inning before they had a chance to bring anyone home. Kaberline had a rough sixth, giving up four hits and four runs, but was not pulled as coach
Todd DeGraffenreid was presumably saving his remaining pitchers for tomorrow's game. S&T would not record a hit in the seventh, ending the game in a 14-2 loss.
Despite the Miners struggles at bat in game two, Bither had more than a little success at the plate, recording three hits on three at bats. The loss went to McBroom, his second of the season.
The Miners end the day back at .500 with a 10-10 record but picked up their first GLVC win. They will conclude their series in Drury with a solo game tomorrow at noon.
