MAC Cardinals split a pair at Flo Valley

ST. LOUIS – The Mineral Area College Cardinals were in St. Louis on Saturday for a double-header against Florissant Valley. The Norsemen took an early lead and held on for a 8-6 victory in game one, but the Cardinals countered for a win in the second contest by the same margin.

MAC led the first game 2-1 after Michael Hall doubled home a run, and eventually scored on an error in the second inning. However, Flo Valley rallied to score four runs in the home half of the second, and two more in the fourth to grab a 7-2 advantage.

Hall smashed a two-homer to highlight a productive sixth inning for the Cardinals. Tyrell Roseburrow added a RBI single to drive in Jace Erickson, cutting the MAC deficit to 7-5.

The Norsemen picked up an insurance tally in the bottom of the sixth. Mineral Area answered with a bases-loaded walk by Jason Miles to draw back to within two, but a fly out left the bases full as the game ended.

Nate Eisenbeis walked six batters and allowed five hits while striking out six over three and two-thirds innings, surrendering five earned runs in the loss. Josh Skaggs allowed two runs on three hits in one and one-third innings of work.

Hall drove in three runs with his two hits on the day. Scott Hubbard went 2-3 at the plate with a pair of singles. Erickson’s one hit was a double, while Mike Christman and Ryan Becker each had a single. Becker left the game late with a hamstring injury.

The Cardinals scored the first run of game two on a first-inning RBI hit from Marty Clements, which drove in Billy Palmer. However, MAC quickly found itself in a 4-1 hole after Flo Valley scored four runs in its half of the first.

Mineral Area cut the difference to 4-2 on a sacrifice fly in the second inning by Miles, but the Cardinals broke out for six big runs in the fourth. MAC collected 12 total hits in the contest.

Hall made it a one-run game with a sacrifice fly. After MAC loaded the bases, Christman and Craig Zobrisky were plunked by pitches in consecutive at-bats to force home the tying and go-ahead runs. Clements emptied the bases with a three-run double to the gap, giving the Cardinals a comfortable 8-4 cushion.

MAC starter Bryan Donaldson struck out nine batters in five innings, while allowing five runs on only four hits to earn the win.

Miles allowed one run on three hits over the final two innings after inheriting an 8-5 lead to earn the save.

Clements went 3-4 with four RBI to lead the MAC hitting attack. Tyler Henson gave the team a lift by going 2-2 at the plate. Hubbard and Palmer each had 2-4 performances.

Mineral Area (11-22-2) will travel to Poplar Bluff on Tuesday for a double-header battle against rival Three Rivers.