By MATT PIKE
The St. Joseph Mustangs hit the road for the final time in the 2026 regular season, ahead of the MINK League playoffs beginning, and beat the Nevada Griffons 9-1 in a MINK League battle as the Mustangs look to hold on to a home playoff matchup.
The Mustangs scored the first two runs in the second inning as Carson Schrack came home on a groundout by Micah Kobuszewski and Frank Gall singled home Seth Winkler. In the sixth inning, the Mustangs extended the lead to 6-0, adding four runs, Winkler driving in Schrack with an RBI single before Carson Hintz hit a three run home run, driving in Winkler and Kobuszewki. The Griffons scored their lone run in the bottom of the sixth, an RBI double from Miguel Salazar scoring Timothy Madera, to put St. Joseph up 6-1.
The Mustangs held the 6-1 lead until the eighth inning when they tacked on their final three runs. Brayden Luikart reached first base on a fielders choice, with Boston Bruce being thrown out at second, driving in Charles Stevens and Jayden Little brought home Gall with an RBI single. The final run scored on a sacrifice fly from Winkler, driving in Luikart for the 9-1 lead. St. Joseph allowed just one more hit over the final two innings.
Chris Coy earned the win pitching six innings and giving up the one run on three hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Jaxon Turner threw two scoreless innings of relief giving up two hits with three strikeouts and a walk, while Owen Foster earned a save throwing a clean ninth inning with two strikeouts. At the plate, Schrack was 4-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Hintz was 1-for-3 with a home run, a walk, a stolen base, and three RBI's. Gall was 2-for-5 with a walk and an RBI.
The Mustangs are 23-14 on the season, 20-13 in the MINK League, and return home on Thursday for their final non MINK matchup against the Kansas City Monarchs. First pitch will be at 6:30pm.
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