Cardinals split two against Rend Lake

INA, Ill. — Center fielder Brad Matson homered and collected RBI to help the Mineral Area College baseball team salvage a doubleheader split on Tuesday.

The Cardinals scored three times in the fifth and sixth innings to overtake host Rend Lake 7-4 after erasing a 4-run deficit.

Sophomore pitcher Wayde Roth earned the win following three dominant frames in relief of starter Trey Bazzell. The Valle Catholic graduate did not allow a run or hit while striking out three.

Carlos Vargas scored two runs and matched Victor Zuniga with two singles apiece in the victory.

Rend Lake pinned the first loss on Cardinals ace Jeff King this season by prevailing 6-4 in the opener, compiling 11 hits overall.

Hunter Leeper notched two doubles among three total hits to pace MAC. Brad Ridings and Clayton Gibbons had two hits each, and Connor Davault stroked a 2-RBI single.

Mineral Area (23-6) will face the Missouri Valley junior varsity on Thursday before playing a weekend series against Region 16 rival Maple Woods.