Less than a week since their last meeting, the McCracken County Mustangs traveled to Graves County to face the Eagles at Eagles Field on Tuesday night. The Mustangs used heavy offense to lead the way with a 14-3 victory over Graves County, 10 runs coming in the top of the seventh inning for McCracken County.
“Overall, it was a great team win. We picked up our energy from last week a lot, which was very helpful for me and our other batters,” Caleb Ehling said. “Scout [Moffatt] and I were both in slumps, so it was great to see us getting on a lot. You have to keep swinging the bat to get out of a slump and not let it get to your head, and I think Scout and I did a great job of putting the barrel on the ball, as well as our other guys, one through nine. It was just an overall great team win.”
Ehling led the McCracken County Mustangs with four hits, going 4-for-5 with four runs, one RBI, and a triple in the third inning. As Ehling mentioned, Moffatt’s bat also played a crucial role in the Mustang offense as the senior went 2-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, two triples, and a sacrifice fly to score Ehling.
The Mustangs collected 17 hits, including three doubles, three triples, and one home run, in seven innings. James, who ripped a two-run home run over the left field wall in the top of the seventh, went 3-for-5, leading McCracken County with four RBI.
Graves County scored three runs in the loss against the Mustangs. Drake Defreitas, Coby Mullins, and Kory White each had a hit. Defreitas went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to keep the Eagles within striking distance.
Noah Godwin earned the nod and the win for McCracken County. The junior hurler worked five innings on 78 pitches, striking out six of 19 while allowing one hit, two runs (one earned), and walking three. Senior Seth Harris appeared in relief and collected the save for the Mustangs. The crafty lefty worked two innings, allowing two hits and one (earned) run while striking out two of seven.
The Eagles used five arms in the ballgame, with Cole Woodward receiving the start and taking the loss. Woodward worked four innings on the bump, allowing six hits, three runs (earned), and two walks while striking out two.
The Mustangs held a 4-2 lead over Graves County until the bottom of the sixth when Defreitas’s home run made it a one-run game. However, the Eagles ran into trouble in the top of the seventh inning as the Mustangs plated 10, extending their lead to 14-3.
McCracken County led off the seventh with Ehling singling to left field before scoring on a triple by Moffatt. With an RBI single by James, the Mustangs moved to a three-run lead with no outs. The scoring continued as Jude Farley doubled to left field, scoring James. The inning continued for McCracken County as Kendrick Dunning doubled, scoring Braden Casebier and Weston Miller to make it 9-3.
An RBI single by Miller Green extended the lead, allowing Dunning to score and move Caden Kern into scoring position. Moffatt collected his second triple in his second AB of the inning, allowing Kern and Green to cross home plate. The next batter, James, ripped a home run over the blue left field wall, scoring Moffatt to make it 14-3.
Despite a lead-off single at the bottom of the seventh inning for Graves County, the Eagles could not extend the inning as Harris collected a strikeout, and Jack Paul grounded into a double play to end the contest.
UP NEXT: The McCracken County Mustangs will kick off a weekend homestand on Thursday night at Edward Jones Field. The Mustangs will host Clarksville (TN), Triad (IL), Christian Brothers (TN), and Edwardsville (IL) over the weekend. The Graves County Eagles will face Triad (IL) on Thursday night, hosting Westview (TN) and Scott City (MO) at home this weekend.
MCCRACKEN COUNTY 14, GRAVES COUNTY 3
MCHS 1 0 2 0 1 0 10 — 14-17-2
GCHS 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 — 3-3-2
WP: N. Godwin; LP: C. Woodward; S: S. Harris
2B: MCHS — C. Hawes, J. Farley, K. Dunning; GCHS — C. Mullins
3B: MCHS — S. Moffatt 2, C. Ehling
HR: MCHS — E. James; GCHS — D. Defreitas
TB: MCHS — C. Ehling 6, E. James 6, S. Moffatt 6, C. Hawes 3, J. Farley 3, K. Dunning 3, M. Green 2; GCHS — D. Defreitas 4, C. Mullins 2, J. Hunter 1
HBP: MCHS — W. Miller
SF: MCHS — S. Moffatt
SB: MCHS — C. Ehling 3, B. Casebier, E. James, K. Dunning; GCHS — C. Mullins
CS: GCHS — H. Alexander
E: MCHS — J. Farley 2; GCHS — C. Reed 2
RECORDS: McCracken County (14-4); Graves County (15-5)