Published: Thursday, April 23, 2009
Updated: Thursday, April 23, 2009 11:10 AM CDT

FULTON, Mo. — Dustin Hunter recorded five strikeouts and allowed only two hits in a complete-game shutout on Wednesday, as the Mineral Area College baseball team edged North Central 1-0 in the first game of a double-header.

The MAC defense turned two timely double plays to negate a pair of errors behind Hunter (4-0), who escaped his toughest jam with three ground balls after the first two batters reached safely during the third inning.

The only scoring occurred when center fielder Bobby Tatum led off the first inning with his sixth home run of the season. Tatum added a single to finish 2-for-3 and Mike Bigogno doubled for the Cardinals’ only other hit.

Chris Green had nine strikeouts and retired his last 11 batters faced while taking a hard-luck loss for North Central. Adam Burcham and Jeff Smith each singled for the Pirates.

The Cardinals stood one inning away from a needed sweep in game two, but David Bliss drilled a two-run homer in the seventh inning off reliever Phillip Davolt in a 4-3 comeback win for North Central.

MAC evened the score on consecutive RBI singles from Isaac Armstrong and Drew Pixley in the second inning, then grabbed a 3-2 lead in the fifth on hits from Chance Cleveland, Nick Cox and Tatum.

Bigogno pitched six innings with nine hits allowed and four strikeouts in the no-decision. Richie Stanley and Bigogno picked up singles for the Cardinals, who had three runners caught stealing.

Burcham paced North Central by going 3-for-4, and Bliss added a single during a two-run first inning to finish 2-for-4.

The games were played on a neutral field at William Woods University. Mineral Area (18-26) will host Jefferson today at 1 p.m. for a pair of Region XVI contest.