By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The St. Joseph Mustangs got back in the win column on Saturday night, defeating the Des Moines Peak Prospects 11-2 at Phil Welch Stadium.
Following a scoreless first inning, the Prospects would take a one run lead in the second, before the Mustangs would strike for four runs to take the lead for good.
Designated hitter Jeremy Rader drove in Ryan Callahan with a double to start the scoring in the second. Catcher Ben Click, Savannah alumni Noah Bodenhausen, and Lafayette alumni Cole Slibowski would also drive in runs in the inning to lead Des Moines 4-1.
Des Moines would get one run back in the top half of the third, but the Mustangs again would extend the gap thanks to a triple from Callahan that would bring in right fielder Trevor McCollum. Rader would go on to drive Callahan in once again, this time with a sacrifice fly, pushing the lead to 6-2 at the end of the third.
St. Joseph would add four more runs in the fourth inning, two coming home on a double from Callahan and another two coming in on a single from left fielder Easton Bruce.
The final run for St. Joseph would come in the bottom of the sixth inning as third baseman Mason Holton's sacrifice fly to left field would score Callahan.
Ryan Callahan led all hitters on the night going 4 for 5 at the plate with four runs scored and three RBI's. On the night Callahan recorded two singles, a double, and a triple finishing just a home run shy of the cycle.
On the mound starting pitcher Brandon Stone pitched seven solid innings recording seven strikeouts and walking three batters allowing the two runs, only one earned, and five hits in what would be his final start of the summer. Bishop Leblond alumni Jaren Guck and Ryker Curry pitched one inning each of relief.
St. Joseph is now 14-8 on the season, 12-8 in MINK League play, and remain in second place in the MINK League North behind the Clarinda A's. The Mustangs will begin a four game road trip on Sunday in Nevada against the Griffons. First pitch is set for 7pm.