By MATT PIKE
The St. Joseph Mustangs bounced back from their season opening loss, earning their first win of the season as MINK League play began against the Carroll Merchants, winning 6-2 at Phil Welch Stadium.
The win came behind a strong performance on the mound by Lawson alum Lane Chapman. Chapman surrendered both runs to the Merchants, but gave up just two hits and walked four while striking out eight in seven strong innings on the mound for his first win of the season. Bryson Augustyn struck out three over two hitless innings of relief.
The Mustangs scored all of their runs before the Merchants were able to answer against Chapman in the sixth inning. St. Joseph opened up the scoring in the third inning after Missouri Western's Micah Kobuszewski walked and Lafayette alum Jayden Little doubled. On a wild pitch, Kobuszewski scored, while Little moved to third. The bases would end up loaded on walks to Tyler Gundlefinger and Carter Belton, but Isaiah Ketller popped out to end the inning.
In the fourth, two more runs scored for St. Joseph, the Mustangs getting runners on a single by Norman Davis and a one out hit by pitch on Missouri Western's Seth Winkler. On the first pitch of the next at bat after the hit by pitch, Kobuszewski doubled to drive in both Davis and Winkler extending the lead to 3-0. In the fifth, the final runs were scored, with the bases loaded Benton alum Chris Coy singled driving in Kettler and Belton. Another single by Winkler scored Davis for the final Mustangs run.
Chapman opened the sixth inning with back-to-back walks to Austin Gabrielson and Wilmer Martinez. After both runners stole a base, Chapman struck out Hayden Oliver for the first out, but then a wild pitch brought home Gabrielson for the first Merchants run. A double by Austin Andersen drove in Martinez for the final run, as Chapman would bounce back getting Drew Owen to line out and would strike out Sam Weller looking to end the inning.
At the plate in the win, the Benton alum Coy was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk. MoWest's Kobuszewski was also 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI's, also walking once and stealing a base. Little, the Lafayette alum, was 1-for-5 with a double, but struck out three times.
The Mustangs wrap up a three game homestand to open the season tomorrow. The Ban Johnson Raiders come to Phil Welch Stadium to face the St. Joseph Mustangs with first pitch at 7pm. After Saturday's game, the Mustangs will be off until Tuesday.
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