ROLLA, Mo. – The Miners won the first game in their series against William Jewell in a 19-8 run rule. They entered the bottom of the seventh inning up 10-8, but would score 9 that inning, including a grand slam by
Matt Souza (Escondido, CA/Christian) to end the game.
Dylan Mollett (St. Louis, MO/Oakville) would start the game and pitch 3.2 innings, but the win would go to
Elijah Gross (Lee's Summit, MO/Lee's Summit West). Mollett started the game off on the wrong note, giving up a single and a walk to start the game. It appeared that he had leveled out when he struck out the next batter, but he would still go on to give up two more hits and three runs before closing out the top of the first. In the Miners' first at bat of the day,
Sam Monroe (Moline, Ill./Moline) received a free base from a hit by pitch, the first of eight on the day for S&T. Two at bats later,
Kenneth Sugi (North Vancouver, BC/Carson Graham Secondary) double down the right foul line to put runners on second and third with one out. An error by William Jewell and a sacrifice fly by
Nick Krodinger (DeSoto, MO/DeSoto) would bring two runs home for the Miners and they would go on to end the first inning down 3-2.
Mollett started off the second inning with a walk but would get three straight outs to shut the Cardinals out in the second inning.
Carter Bither (Springfield, MO/Springfield Catholic) led off with a hit by pitch in the bottom of the second, advancing to second off a sacrifice bunt by
Andrew Hedgecorth (Smithville, MO/Smithville). A single by
Sam Monroe (Moline, Ill./Moline) next at bat would bring Bither home for the only score of the inning to tie the game 3-3. Mollett got into trouble in the top of the third, loading the bases with only one out after two walks and a hit by pitch. He would strike out the next pitcher to put the Miners in a more manageable position, which they would capitalize on with a ground out to prevent the Cardinals from scoring.
The Miners started the bottom of the third off by loading the bases after a walk and two singles. A single down the left field line by Hedgecorth would bring two home and leading to a pitching change for WJC. The next pitcher would give up a single off a Monroe bunt that loaded the bases again. After a double play with forceouts at third and home, the Miners were left with runners on first and second with two outs. Another hit for Sugi would bring home Hedgecorth and advanced Weiner to third, putting the Miners up by three. During the next at bat, Sugi would try to steal and get caught between the bases, freeing up Weiner to try to steal home. The Cardinals gave up on the hot box for Sugi and went for the tag out at home plate but missed on the throw, allowing Weiner to steal home and Sugi to steal second. A foul out by
Matt Souza (Escondido, CA/Christian) would end the inning with S&T up 7-3.
Mollett would grab two strikeouts in the top of the fourth before being replaced by Gross with runners on first and third. Gross would walk his first batter to load the bases before giving up a double to left center that brough three home for the Cardinals. A fly out would end the inning with the Miners holding onto a one run lead. With one out in the bottom of the fourth,
Tyler Prince (Mexico, MO/Mexico) hit a home run deep over the left field fence, his first of the season. The Miners would go on to score two more in the inning off a single from Monroe, giving them a 10-6 lead heading into the fifth.
The top of the fifth was the shortest of the day, with Gross getting a strikeout and two flyouts to end the inning with just eight pitches. The Miners would have bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth after a single by Sugi and two HBPs, but were unable to bring anyone home as the score remained 10-6. The Cardinals would lead off the next inning with a triple off the first pitch, eventually bringing two home off a double and a fielders choice out at second.
Jake Schisler (Quincy, IL/Quincy Notre Dame) would replace Gross with two outs and runners on first and third, getting a strikeout against his first batter to end the inning with the Miners still leading 10-8.
The next two half innings had three batters each as both pitchers quickly moved through their at bats. Up 10-8 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Miners started off by loading the bases of a single, an error, and a walk before the Cardinals made a pitching change. Prince would single to bring home two runs in the next at bat, putting S&T up 12-8. Two at bats later, Hedgecorth would be hit by with with bases loaded to bring one home, followed by a walk for Monroe as he recorded his fourth RBI of the day. With the Miners up 15-8, two outs on the board, and bases loaded, Souza hit a grand slam to clear the bases a force a run rule for a 19-8 Miners win.
Souza's grand slam would give him 5 RBIs on the day, the most of anyone on the team and a single game record for him. Sugi recorded the most hits though with 4. Today's 19 runs are a season high for the Miners. They also achieved season highs in batting average with .424 and RBIs with 18.
The Miners will be back on the diamond tomorrow for a doubleheader starting at noon.
