By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The St. Joseph Mustangs took advantage of five errors and also used a big five run sixth inning to score an 11-0 shutout victory over the NEMO Craze on opening night at Phil Welch Stadium.
Mustangs newcomer Jack Mosh had a big night, going just 1-for-1 at the plate with a double, but walking twice and stealing two bases, scoring two runs in the victory. Mustangs pitchers combined for 20 strikeouts on the night, starter Aron Harrington striking out nine. East Buchanan alum Bronco Whitt, one of last years pitchers of the year, struck out two in one inning of relief.
The Mustangs plated one run in the second inning when Savannah alum Truman Bodenhausen doubled scoring Mosh for the opening score. Another run scored in the fourth, again by Mosh as Northwest Missouri State's Parker Griffith singled into left field, pushing the lead to 2-0.
St. Joseph doubled their lead in the fifth inning, Dom Felix grounding out and scoring Logan Miller, advancing Lafayette alum Brayden Luikart to third base. Luikart scored as Tyler Gundelfinger reached on an error, extending the lead before the Mustangs broke things open in the sixth inning.
In the sixth, with the bases loaded, Felix walked bringing home Bodenhausen and keeping the bases loaded, though not for long as Bishop LeBlond alum and Missouri Western baseball player Frank Gall scored on a wild pitch. Benton alum and University of Nebraska-Omaha commit Chris Coy walked to reload the bases, then on a passed ball moved to second base as Luikart scored. The final two runs came as Griffith reached on an error, scoring both Felix and Coy.
In the seventh inning, after Gall led off with a double and Miller walked, Luikart reached on an error and Gall crossed home. Miller and Luikart advanced bases later in the inning on a wild pitch, then Miller in the inning on another wild pitch for the final run of the game.
The Mustangs are back in action at 7 p.m. on Friday at Phil Welch taking on the KC Monarchs.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.