ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – In the final game of their series against Lewis University, S&T lost 6-4. The Miners hit four homeruns today, two by
Kenneth Sugi (North Vancouver, BC/Carson Graham Secondary) and one each by
Jack Bell (Andover, KS/Andover Central) and
Tommy Ruether (Washington, MO/Washington).
The Miners did not record a hit in the first three innings but held Lewis to only one run in that time to keep the deficit to 1-0. They would find their first offensive rhythm in the next inning, getting two singles the lead.
After starting pitcher
David Kephart (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley Northwest) got through the bottom of the fourth in just 11 pitches, the Miners took the plate again for the fifth inning where they would take the lead. Bell and Sugi hit home runs in back-to-back at bats to give the Miners a 2-1 lead.
The bottom of the fifth was another quick for Kephart, getting three outs in 12 pitches to take the game into the sixth inning.
Nick Krodinger (DeSoto, MO/DeSoto) led off the inning with a single to right center but would not advance for another three at bats when
Denton Damgaard (Colorado Springs, CO/Cheyenne Mountain HS) hit a single to right field. With two outs and runners in scoring position,
Andrew Hedgecorth (Smithville, MO/Smithville) stepped up to the plate, but would hit a fly out to right on the second pitch to end the half inning.
Kephart had his first real trouble of the game in the sixth, giving up a walk a single the latter of which was compounded by a throwing error by S&T that allowed the Flyers to score a run and tie the game. A sacrifice fly in the next at bat would bring another home for Lewis and lead to
Elijah Gross (Lee's Summit, MO/Lee's Summit West) taking over pitching duties. The switch to a left-handed pitcher seemed to be enough to discombobulate the Flyers, as they hit a fly out and a ground in the next 5 pitches to end the inning.
A scoreless seventh for the Miners took the game into the bottom of the inning, where
Dylan Wipf (Oak Park, IL/River Forest) would replace Gross, going on to record a strikeout and holding the Flyers hitless and scoreless in the inning. With one out in the top of the eighth,
Tommy Ruether (Washington, MO/Washington) stepped in to pinch hit for
Sam Monroe (Moline, Ill./Moline) and would hit a solo homerun on just his second pitch of the day, tying the game at 3-all. The Miners would hit a couple of singles in the ensuing at bats but fail to bring any of them home to seize the lead.
Cody Hazzard (Mazon, IL/Yorkville Christian) replaced Wipf to start the eighth, giving up a homerun to the first batter he faced. He would strikeout the next two but then give up a single and two-run homerun to allow the Flyers to take a 6-3 lead. Three at bats later the inning would finally end, sending the game to the last inning. Sugi homered off the second pitch of the inning and
Tyler Prince (Mexico, MO/Mexico) would get a double two at bats later. After a fly out by Krodinger, Ruether hit a single that advanced Prince to third and put the tying run on base.
Aiden Cizek (Wildwood, MO/Lafayette) was unable to complete the comeback though, striking out swinging to end the game and the series.
Ruether's 2 hits in 2 at bats with 1 run and 1 RBI was the best performance at the plate for S&T today.
Cody Hazzard (Mazon, IL/Yorkville Christian) incurred the loss in the pitching decisions, dropping his record to 1-2. The Miners are now 22-20 with a 12-16 GLVC record.
Next series will be back at home against Rockhurst.
