By MATT PIKE
The St. Joseph Mustangs are getting hot, winning four games in a row after a 10-0 run rule shutout victory over the Kansas City Collegieate Baseball League to open a four game homestand.
Atchison alum Boston Bruce flexed his muscles in the first inning to open the scoring, hitting a solo home run, his second of the season. In the second inning, the Mustangs extended the lead adding one more run after Missouri Western's Seth Winkler led off the inning with a triple, and was drove in on a groundout from Lafayette alum Jayden Little to put St. Joseph up 2-0 early.
In the fourth inning, the Mustangs added one more run, Little singling and advancing to second on a single from Zack Craft, soon scoring as Carter Belton reached first on an error. Then in the fifth inning, St. Joseph opened things up with a five run frame, the first run coming when Lafayette alum Brayden Luikart crossed home plate after singling, and later in the inning stealing third base, scoring on an RBI single from Winkler, after his Missouri Western teammate Micah Kobuszewski reached on a fielers choice.
A walk to Little loaded the bases, and then another walk to Craft brought in Kobuszewski to score the second run of the inning. Eden Meyers reached first base on a fielders, beating out a double play ball as Craft was thrown out at second, but bringing home Winkler, before Carter Belton capped the scoring in the inning with a two RBI double, driving in Meyers and Little to put the Mustangs up 8-0.
St. Joseph went on to score the final two runs in the sixth inning, Bruce and Luikart reaching on back-to-back walks to open the inning, before a single from Kobuszewski allowed Bruce to score, and moved Luikart to third, Kobuszewski also advancing to second base. Luikart later scored on a wild pitch with no outs. Kobuszewski would advance to third base, but ended up stranded with runners on the corners after Craft walked with two outs.
JT Adams put up his most efficient start of the season thus far, pitching four innings and giving up just three hits, striking out seven and walking three. At the plate, Bruce was 1-for-1 with the home run and an RBI, walking three times. Winkler was 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI, while Luikart was 2-for-3 with a walk, two stolen bases, and two runs scored.
The Mustangs are now 5-3 on the season and host the Chillicothe Mudcats tomorrow at Phil Welch Stadium. First pitch is at 6:30pm.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.