By MATT PIKE
The Nevada Griffons tied up the game in the top of the third inning, but the Mustangs took the lead back in the bottom half, and went on to blow the lead wide open in the eighth, beating the Griffons 10-3 on Friday night at Phil Welch Stadium.
The Mustangs took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning thanks to some errors by the Griffons. After Trevor McCollum was hit by a pitch and stole second base, Lafayette alum Brayden Luikart singled, but advanced to second on an error by right fielder Jordan Rowe, allowing McCollum to score. Justin George reached first on an error, and stole second base, before both Luikart and George scored as Jack Mosh reached first on the third error of the inning.
Despite the lead, the Griffons got to Mustangs starter Jaren Guck to tie the game in the third inning, also benefitting from errors. Cole Collins reached first on error by Mosh, driving in Hunter Doyle to start the scoring. The lead was cut to one when Rowe reached on a fielders choice, bringing home Cal Cosens for the second unearned run of the inning. Bryce Humphrey's RBI single, scoring Rowe, tied up the game in the inning.
But in the bottom of the third, the Mustangs wasted no time taking the lead back, Easton Phillipe hitting a sacrifice fly to drive in George who was hit by a pitch to start the inning. In the fifth, St. Joseph added one more to extend the lead as Benton alum Chris Coy singled home Mosh after his one out triple.
Then in the eighth inning, leading 5-3, the Mustangs blew the door open in the game, putting up five runs. After back to back singles by Lafayette alum Jayden Little and Tyler Gundelfinger, Little came home to score on a third straight single by Darius Freeman. A wild pitch moved both Gundelfinger and Freeman into scoring position and McCollum drove in Gundelfinger with a sacrifice fly, before Freeman scored with a single from Luikart.
With Luikart on first, the bases ended up loaded after a walk to George and Mosh getting hit by a pitch, and Coy drove in the final two runs of the game reaching first on an error, scoring Luikart and George. Phillipe would be walked to reload the bases, but Little struck out to end the inning.
Michael Infranca earned the win in relief pitching two scoreless innings giving up one hit and walking one while striking out five. At the plate, Luikart was 2-for-5 with an RBI. Little was also 2-for-5 with a run while Coy was 1-for-4 with a walk and three RBIs.
The Mustangs are now 28-5 on the season and 22-4 in the MINK League. They will run it back again on Saturday against the Nevada Griffons for the final game of the three game homestand. First pitch is at 7pm from Phil Welch Stadium.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.