On Tuesday afternoon, the No. 3 McCracken County Mustangs continued their homestand at Edward Jones Field with an early contest against the visiting Munster Mustangs from Indiana. In a five-inning romp, the Mustangs defeated Munster 13-1, with McCracken County’s offense taking action on the diamond.
“The weather wasn’t too good and played a part in today’s outing,” Alex Calhoun said. “However, the offense came out today, and that’s what mattered.”
Calhoun collected the win on the mound for McCracken County. The senior hurler struck out three with one earned run on 76 pitches, allowing six hits, facing 18 batters from Munster. Scout Moffatt closed the game, throwing one inning, walking one, and allowing one hit on 14 pitches.
Sam Hays took the loss for Munster. The senior hurler surrendered eight hits, nine runs (earned), and four walks on 67 pitches. Feldrick and Anderson appeared in relief of Hays, working less than an inning apiece. Feldrick allowed three hits, four runs (earned), and walked two.
As Calhoun mentioned, the McCracken County offense showed up on the windy, chilled day, tallying 11 hits at Edward Jones Field. Moffatt went 2-for-3, and Miller Green went 2-for-2. The Mustangs hit three doubles (Green, Tyler Chapman, and Eli James) and two triples (Green, Weston Miller) against Munster’s arms on the bump.
James, Miller, Chapman, Caleb Ehling, Caden Kern, Griffin Cantrell, and Casey Hawes collected a hit for McCracken County. McCracken County did not strike out a single time in the game.
Despite Munster getting three two-out singles, the visiting half of the first inning ended with a fielder’s choice toward third base, allowing Green to beat Joey Campagna to the bag and get the third out. The Mustangs did not waste a moment of the home half of the inning, plating eight runs on seven hits.
Ehling singled on a 2-1 count for the first Mustang hit of the contest. The next batter, Green, doubled to center field, allowing Ehling to score. Moffatt continued the offense for McCracken County with an RBI single to center field, scoring Green to give the Mustangs a quick 2-0 lead. Moffatt scored on a sacrifice fly by Jude Farley, making it 3-0 and advancing James to third. McCracken County’s lead extended in the inning with a triple by Miller, allowing James to plate the fourth run.
McCracken County continued to have Hays’ as Hawes singled, scoring Miller. Despite a flyout by Cantrell, the Mustangs did not let up in the inning, batting around as nine-hole Kern singled to center field. Ehling, in his second appearance at the plate in the inning, drew a walk to load the bases. Another walk from Munster allowed McCracken County to make it 6-0 as Green drew a four-pitch walk.
The seventh and eighth runs in the inning for the Mustangs came as Moffatt singled on a line drive to left field, scoring Kern and Ehling to give McCracken County an 8-0 lead.
McCracken County added one in the bottom of the third inning to take a 9-0 lead over Munster. With two outs, Green tripled on a line drive to right field, scoring Ehling.
Munster plated one run in the top of the fourth inning as Mason Jarrett tripled to right field. Jarrett scored as Southwell grounded out to short. However, the Mustangs and Calhoun escaped the inning without further damage from Munster.
The Mustangs increased the lead to 13-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning. James led off with a double to center, reaching the fence. The following two batters, Farley and Miller, drew walks to load the bases. On a 1-0 count, Chapman ripped a fly ball to right field, which looked like it would be called a grand slam. However, it was ruled a double as the ball was stuck in the 330 sign against the fence.
Chapman’s RBI double allowed Braden Casebier and James to make it 11-1, advancing Miller into scoring position at third base. Miller scored as the next batter, Cantrell, singled to center. Gage Dugan’s sacrifice fly to short gave Chapman enough room to score, making it 13-1. The inning continued as Josh Penrod grounded into a fielder’s choice and concluded on a flyout by Kendrick Dunning.
Moffatt closed the game for McCracken County, allowing a single and walk before inducing a double play ball as Cantrell and Will Fox completed the play. The game ended with a line out directly into Cantrell’s glove at short.
UP NEXT: The McCracken County Mustangs will travel to Union City on Wednesday to face the Golden Tornadoes before spring break in Charleston, South Carolina, in the Hanahan Invitational Tournament.
MCCRACKEN COUNTY 13, MUNSTER 1
MHS 0 0 0 1 0 X X --1-7-1
MCHS 8 0 1 4 X X X — 13-11-0
WP: A. Calhoun; LP: S. Hays
2B: MCHS — T. Chapman, E. James, M. Green
3B: MHS — M. Jarrett; MCHS — M. Green, W. Miller
TB: MHS — M. Jarrett 4, B. Cappetto 2, J. Campagna 1, B. Gelarden 1, Z. Wright 1; M. Green 5, W. Miller 3, E. James 2, S. Moffatt 2, T. Chapman 2, C. Ehling 1, C. Hawes 1, C. Kern 1, G. Cantrell 1
SF: MCHS — G. Dugan, J. Farley
SB: MCHS — E. James, S. Moffatt
E: M. JarrettRECORDS: Munster (1-1); McCracken County (7-2)