By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The St. Joseph Mustangs had a lot to celebrate on Saturday night. It was Missouri Western night, it was another Tenderloins night, and a record breaking 6,013 fans showed up to see the Mustangs remain in first place in the MINK League North with a 10-4 win over Des Moines.
The night started off slow for St. Joseph though, as Des Moines took an early 2-0 lead through two innings, but after that it was all Mustangs. St. Joseph drew one run closer in the third before taking the lead for good in the fourth inning.
Lafayette alumni Jayden Little would drive in two runs with a triple and then after fellow Lafayette alum Cole Slibowski would drive Little in with a single, Ryan Callahan would score Slibowski for the final run of the frame, putting the Mustangs up 5-2 after four innings.
The Prospects would draw one run closer in the top of the fifth, but in the bottom half of the inning another triple, this time by catcher Ben Click would score two, and in the next at bat pinch hitter Aron Harrington who hit for Little would drive in Click with a single. Des Moines would struggle with command for the final two runs of the inning as both Callahan and Lafayette alum Ike Book would walk with the bases loaded, pushing the Mustangs lead to 10-3 at the end of the fifth.
The final Des Moines run would be scored in the top of the ninth with Savannah alum Braden Berry on the mound closing out the game.
At the plate Ryan Callahan was the leader for the Mustangs going 2 for 4 and driving in three runs. Mason Holton continued his strong season on the mound pitching six innings and striking out nine while giving up three runs. Holton currently sits in second place in the MINK League in strikeouts with 43 on the season.
The Mustangs are now 27-13 (25-12 MINK League) on the season and are sitting 2.5 games ahead of the Clarinda A's in the MINK League North division. St. Joseph will look to push their win streak to three games on Sunday as they begin a four game road trip in Sedalia. First pitch is set for 7pm