By MATT PIKE
The St. Joseph Mustangs closed out a three game homestand, and two days of Independence Day celebrations, with a 9-0 shutout of the Joplin Jailbirds at Phil Welch Stadium.
The Mustangs started the night taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Benton alum Chris Coy walked and Bishop LeBlond alum Frank Gall singled to lead off the inning, and after both stole bases with one out, Carson Schrack singled to score Coy and Atchison alum Boston Bruce reached first on a fielders choice driving in Gall. St. Joseph held the 2-0 lead until the sixth inning when they added on to the lead over Joplin.
Three runs scored in the sixth, starting with Lafayette alum crossing home plate on a triple by Missouri Western's Micah Kobuszewski after Little led off the inning with a walk. A sacrifice fly by Tyler Gundelfinger drove in Kobuszewski, then with one out Carter Belton singled and stole second base, Coy was hit by a pitch, and a triple by Gall scored Belton, Coy was thrown out at home though. Brayden Luikart would pop out to end the inning with the Mustangs up 5-0.
Three more runs scored in the seventh inning, the first on a bases loaded hit by pitch on Gundelfinger, bringing home Schrack. Gundelfinger was the third hit batter in the inning after both Schrack and Little were both hit by pitches to start the inning, Kobuszewski reached on a walk to load the bases prior to Gundelfinger being hit. A groundout by Belton added a run, scoring Little, and a wild pitch brought home Kobuszewski. Gall scored the final run of the game in the eighth inning after hitting his second triple of the game, being brought home on a sacrifice fly by Luikart.
Haru Takekawa pitched a gem for the Mustangs, throwing six shutout innings and striking out 10 while giving up three hits and walking two. Landon Reith threw one inning of relief giving up one hit and striking out one, while Brayden Hindes gave up two hits in two innings, striking out one. At the plate, Gall was 3-for-5 with two triples and an RBI with a stolen base. Little was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Gundelfinger was 1-for-1 with a walk and two RBI's.
The Mustangs are now 14-12, 11-11 in the MINK League, and will hit the road next for two games first traveling to face Clarinda tomorrow. First pitch is at 4pm.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.