By MATT PIKE
The St. Joseph Mustangs came one win away from a double digit win streak, but saw their streak snapped by the North Missouri Natty's in Kirksville, blowing the game in the ninth inning, and losing 6-4.
The Mustangs went up 2-0 through the first four innings after solo home runs in the first inning by Brayden Luikart and then in the third inning by Frank Gall. In the bottom of the fifth inning the Natty's got on the board, cutting the St. Joseph lead in half, loading the bases with two outs, before Alex Alton hit an RBI single to score Lucas Alton, putting the Mustangs up 2-1 at the end of five innings.
In the sixth, Luikart hit his second home run of the game, a solo home run on the first pitch he saw to extend the lead. In the seventh inning, Eden Meyers singled, and stole second base, then with two outs an RBI single by Gall brought Meyers home to put the Mustangs up 4-1. In the eighth, the lead was again cut in half by the Natty's, this time on a wild pitch by Jaxon Turner, scoring Vincent Dale who walked with one out in the inning. In the top half of the ninth, the Mustangs got runners on first and second with a walk to Chris Coy and a single by Gall, all with one out, but Luikart grounded into a double play to send it to the bottom half.
In the bottom half, the Natty's put together the walk off win. Back-to-back walks to Sawyer Nelson and Ty Hall prompted the Mustangs to bring Tyler Gundelfinger to the mound. Gundelfinger got Alex Alton to pop out for the first out of the inning, but then walked Lucas Eddleman to load the bases, and then walked in a run to cut the lead to one, scoring Nelson and puttng Dale on first. Matt Asher was hit by a pitch from Gundelfinger to tie the game, driving in Hall, and then Cole Erwin doubled to right center, bringing home Eddleman and Dale for the win.
Michael Lujan pitched a gem to start for the Mustangs, throwing four innings and giving up one hit while striking out nine and walking two. Turner pitched one inning and gave up no hits, but walked five and struckout three, giving up three runs, while Gundelfinger threw 0.1 of an inning, walking two and givng up one hit and two runs. At the plate, Gall was 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI's. Luikart was 2-for-5 with two home runs and two RBI's. Jayden Little was 2-for-3 with a walk.
The Mustangs are 20-13 on the season, 17-12 in the MINK League, and will return to St. Joseph tonight to face the Clarinda A's at Phil Welch Stadium. First pitch is at 6:30pm.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.