MARION, Ill. -- Missouri S&T set a program record for the largest comeback in a Great Lakes Valley Conference postseason game on Friday night, rallying from a 9-3 deficit by scoring eight runs in the eighth inning to defeat No. 3 Indianapolis 14-10. The Miners advance to tomorrow's double-elimination championship at 12 p.m., where they will face No. 2 Missouri-St. Louis again.
The Indianapolis Greyhounds started the game strong, recording a double and a single in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead. Drew Baugus (Kirkwood, MO/Kirkwood) and Garrett Meyer (Jacksonville, IL/Jacksonville) both reached on singles in the bottom of the first, but the Miners were unable to bring a run home as the Greyhounds turned a double play and recorded a fielder's choice to end the inning.
The Hounds recorded hits in each of the next two innings, but it was the Miners who added runs to the board next, as Nick Krodinger (DeSoto, MO/DeSoto) hit a two-run homer to left field to put S&T ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the third. However, the Hounds quickly responded with a four-hit top of the fourth, scoring a pair of runs to retake a one-run lead at 3-2.
The Miners tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. Scott Thompson (Greeley, CO/University) reached on a walk, stole second, and came home on a Will Muench (Wentzville, MO/Timberland) single to center field. Indianapolis responded again, this time recording its biggest offensive inning of the night with five runs on five hits to take an 8-3 advantage, eventually extending the lead to 9-3 after a trio of hits in the sixth.
The Miners' rally started with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, as Drew Baugus (Kirkwood, MO/Kirkwood) sent a base hit through the left side. A walk and a hit-by-pitch issued by Indianapolis' pitcher led to a pitching change as Drake Downing stepped onto the mound for the Hounds. Garrett Meyer (Jacksonville, IL/Jacksonville) hit a two-RBI single through the left side in the next at-bat, bringing Baugus and Smith home. A wild pitch by Downing scored Krodinger to make it a 9-6 game before the inning ended on a groundout to first base.
Zander Street (Festus, MO/St. Pius X) retired Indianapolis' batters in order in the top of the eighth, helping the Miners maintain their momentum. Scott Thompson (Greeley, CO/University) hit a leadoff single in the bottom of the inning and scored two at-bats later on a single through the left side by Jackson Evans (Overland Park, KS/Olathe North). Baugus added another single before the Miners drew two walks and a hit-by-pitch to tie the game at 9-9. Nick Hooper (Grain Valley, MO/Grain Valley) and Caleb Horsey (Springdale, AR/Springdale) kept the inning going, each recording singles as the Miners scored three more runs to take a 12-9 lead, their first since the top of the fourth. An RBI single from Will Beckham (Mountain Home, AR/Mountain Home) and an RBI sacrifice bunt by Thompson made it a 14-9 game before the Greyhounds ended the inning on a fielder's choice.
Dylan Wipf (Oak Park, IL/River Forest) entered in the top of the ninth, allowing just one run before striking out Indianapolis' Chase Mason in the final at-bat of the game to secure a 14-10 victory.
Baugus went 3-for-3 at the plate and scored two runs, while Meyer added another trio of hits. Meyer and Krodinger tied for the team lead in RBIs with three apiece. Street earned the win after pitching 3.2 innings and allowing just one earned run.
What's Next
The Miners will play for the championship tomorrow in a double-elimination format. S&T will need to defeat No. 2 Missouri-St. Louis twice to reclaim the title of GLVC Tournament Champions.
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