MAC prolongs season with six-inning rally

By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer

PARK HILLS — Chad Moss belted a pivotal two-run homer, and fellow outfielder Seth Blackwell delivered the decisive two-run single during a chaotic sixth-inning rally, as Mineral Area College extended its baseball season on Friday with a 10-8 victory over North Central at the Region XVI Tournament.

Trailing the eighth-seeded Pirates 7-4 entering the home half of the sixth, the Cardinals were staring at untimely elimination before storming back for six runs, sending 10 batters to the plate.

After Shane Graue ripped a lead-off single to center field, Moss launched a deep drive that cleared the wall in right-center. North Central starter David Shockley exited the contest after allowing three earned runs, but reliever Keegan Graves plunked the next two hitters, Drew Pixley and Ty Craft.

Matt Thompson promptly evened the score with a sacrifice fly. The rally slowed briefly when a fielder’s choice retired Craft at home plate for the second out, but Jimmy Thompson followed with a single to left field.

Blackwell, who finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, stepped to the plate with two men in scoring position, and grounded the eventual game-winning hit through the left side off John Bauer. Shane Menz scored an insurance run on a passed ball for a 10-7 advantage.

North Central tallied an unearned run in the seventh on a RBI single from Justin Keeton, and eventually loaded the bases with two outs, but Logan Lawson won a nine-pitch battle by striking out Adam Dubuque to close out the MAC triumph.

Lawson recorded nine strikeouts over 5 2/3 frames of relief for the win, allowing two runs on six hits with no walks. Cardinals starter Josh Boyer yielded six earned runs while lasting just 1 1/3 innings.

The Pirates grabbed two first-inning runs after Dubuque and Gus Durst collected back-to-back singles. Although an error helped Mineral Area tie the game, North Central regained a 6-2 margin in the second inning following a three-run double by catcher David Bliss.

Dubuque went 3-for-5 overall to pace the Pirates, and scored his third run on a Kyle Wampler single following a long double in the fourth. Both teams committed four defensive miscues.

Jimmy Thompson finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored for the Cardinals,  including a RBI single in the third after Garrett Oliver doubled down the right-field line. A throwing error brought MAC to within 6-4.

Mineral Area (28-20) will continue play today at 4:30 p.m. against either Meramec or Three Rivers.

North Central  240 100 1 - 8  11  4

Mineral Area  202 006 x - 10  9  4

WP - Lawson 5 1/3i 2r 1er 6h 9k 0bb 1hb.

LP - Graves 1/3 2r 0h 8k 0bb 2hb.

Hitting:

North Central - Dubuque 3-5, Keeton 2-4, Durst 1-3, Johndrow 1-3, Bliss 1-4, Wampler 1-4, Walker 1-4, Estill 1-4. 2b - Keeton, Dubuque, Bliss.

Mineral Area - J Thompson 2-3, Blackwell 2-4, M Thompson 1-3, Moss 1-3, Menz 1-3, Oliver 1-4, Graue 1-4. 2b - Oliver. HR - Moss.