ROLLA, MO -- Missouri S&T Baseball fell behind 1-2 in the series against Missouri-St. Louis today, dropping both games of today's doubleheader. The Tritons' pitchers delivered stellar performances, holding the Miners to just four hits and one run between the two games.
GAME 1: UMSL 8, S&T 0
Missouri-St. Louis found offensive success early, getting a pair of runners on base in the top of the first, before getting their first run in the top of the second to take a 1-0 lead. An error on the Miners in the top of the third would prolong the inning, allowing the Tritons to extend their lead with a three-run homer.
A short bottom of the third would put UMSL back on offense again in the top of the fourth. The visitors started off the inning strong, putting runners in scoring position with a single and a double in the first two at bats. Miners starting pitcher
Ethan Morrow (Lenexa, KS/Shawnee Mission West) managed to minimize the damage though, recording a couple of strikeouts to hold the Tritons to just one run in the inning as S&T fell behind 5-0.
Jack Bell (Andover, KS/Andover Central) recorded the Miners' first hit of the day as lead off hitter in the bottom of the fourth, singling to right center. He would be caught stealing two at bats later, leaving the Miners with two outs and no one on base.
Denton Damgaard (Colorado Springs, CO/Cheyenne Mountain HS) would take a hit by pitch to get another Miner runner on base though, stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch to give the Miners their best baserunning position of the game before the inning ended on an S&T strikeout.
UMSL would add three more runs on six hits in the next two innings, extending their lead to 8-0. The Miners' struggles at the plate continued in the final innings, with the only other Miner hit of the game coming in the bottom of the 7th on an Andrew Baugus double down the right field line, before the game ended on another strikeout.
Game 2: UMSL 4, S&T 1
Starting pitcher
Jake Schisler (Quincy, IL/Quincy Notre Dame) got into trouble in the first inning, allowing two singles and a double in the opening three at bats, leading to a 1-0 Tritons lead. Two ground outs and a fly out would end the inning, but not before another UMSL runner would score to put the visitors up 2-0.
The Miners would get into good position in the bottom of the second, taking to hit by pitches and a walk to load the bases with one out. An infield pop up and strikeout would prevent S&T from bringing any runners home though, leaving all three baserunners stranded.
Each team would record just one hit in the next three innings, taking the game into the top of the 6th. Schisler looked to be in trouble again to start the inning, giving up a single and a walk to put two on with no outs. In the third at bat of the inning, a poorly executed bunt by UMSL's batter popped up for Schisler to make a diving grab before turning the double play with an out at first before the runner could get back. The double play would lead to the Miners getting out of the top of the inning without any runs allowed.
The Miners were in favorable position again the bottom of the 6th, starting the inning off with a
Nick Krodinger (DeSoto, MO/DeSoto) single, before Damgaard took a hit by pitch to give S&T runners on first and second with 0 outs. However, back to back outs by the Miners threatened to end the inning with another zero on the board. Pitch hitters came in for S&T leading to a hit by pitch and a walk to bring home the Miners' first run of the day before a lineout ended the inning.
The Tritons were not satisfied with a one run lead in the final inning, recording two singles and scoring twice in the top of the 7th to go ahead 4-1. Needing three runs to extend the game and four to walk it off, the Miners put runners on first and second with one out before a strikeout and a ground out ended any hope of a comeback as the Tritons took game 3 of the series 4-1.
Baugus had the best batting performance of the day, recording a single and a double in four at bats. The Miners' pitchers recorded nine strikeouts, with
Ethan Morrow's (Lenexa, KS/Shawnee Mission West) four in game one being the most on the team today.
What's Next
The Miners play UMSL in the fourth and final game of their series tomorrow at noon.
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