MARION, Ill. – For the first time in Missouri S&T history, Miners Baseball has won the GLVC Championship.
Miners 11, Prairie Stars 1
In the GLVC Championship and rematch of the opening game, Missouri S&T downed Illinois Springfield 11-1 at Mtn Dew Park.
After a scoreless first two innings, UIS took a 1-0 lead in the third. The Miners responded with 10 runs over the next 10 innings.
S&T took a 3-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning.
Garrett Meyer (Jacksonville, IL/Jacksonville) and
Denton Damgaard (Colorado Springs, CO/Cheyenne Mountain HS) both singled to start the frame.
Tyler Prince (Mexico, MO/Mexico) put down a bunt to tie the game at 1-1. After
Tyler Bizzle (Festus, MO/Festus) was hit by a pitch,
Drew Baugus (Kirkwood, MO/Kirkwood) singled to give the Miners a 3-1 lead.
Starter
Andrew Hedgecorth (Smithville, MO/Smithville) pitched 2 2/3 innings and was charged with a run on three hits and three walks. The right-hander struck out one.
The Miners took a 5-1 lead in the fifth inning.
Nick Krodinger (DeSoto, MO/DeSoto) was hit by a pitch and stole second to begin the inning. Meyer walked and Damgaard singled to score Krodinger. Prince's single extended the lead to 6-1.
Missouri S&T kept going as they went up 8-1 in the sixth inning. Baugus was hit by a pitch and
Bricen Smith (Perry, GA/Mount de Sales Academy) singled. Krodinger's bunt plated Baugus and brought Smith to second.
Will Beckham (Mountain Home, AR/Mountain Home) singled and stole second. A fielding error increased the S&T lead to 8-1.
In the seventh, the Miners recorded two more runs to go up 10-1.
Jack Bell (Andover, KS/Andover Central) was hit by a pitch and stole two bags. Baugus doubled and Smith singled to bring home two runs. Another Baugus double in the ninth made it 11-1.
Reliever
Jacob Cook (Shorewood, Ill./Minooka Community) had one of the best outings of his career in the GLVC Championship. He pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out five batters with only four baserunners allowed. He earned his second win of the season. Meyer closed out the game with a scoreless ninth.
The Miners totaled 13 hits in this game. Baugus was 4-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored. Damgaard recorded three hits with an RBI and one run scored. Prince tallied two hits, two runs and two RBI. Smith also picked up two hits.
S&T was running on the base paths in the championship. Bell recorded two stolen bases, while Baugus, Krodinger, Beckham and
Tyler Bizzle (Festus, MO/Festus) all took one.
For the Miners, it is their first GLVC Championship in program history. They are the second-ever #7 seed to win the GLVC Championship. They will head to the NCAA DII Midwest Regional for the fourth time in the program's history.
What's Next
The Miners will play this week at #2 Grand Valley State on May 15. Start time will be announced later this week.
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