By MATT PIKE
The St. Joseph Mustangs moved their winning streak to six games in a row, defeating a new face to the MINK League this season 7-1 as they welcomed the North Missouri Naturals to Phil Welch Stadium for the first time this season.
The Mustangs got on the board quickly in the first inning, after Benton alum Chris Coy singled, and moved to third on a failed pickoff attempt. A walk to Bishop LeBlond alum Frank Gall brought Lafayette alum Brayden Luikart to the plate, and one night after driving in five runs, he drove in Coy for the first run of the game on a groundout. Gall moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Missouri Western's Seth Winkler, to put St. Joseph up 2-0.
A sacrifice fly from Enrique T-Reyes drove in Ty Hall for the lone run of the game for the Natty's in the second inning. From there it was all Mustangs, Luikart driving in another run in the third inning with a sacrifice fly scoring Coy. In the fifth, St. Joseph added three more runs, a balk bringing home Tyler Gundelfinger with the bases loaded and then Charles Stevens scoring on a wild pitch, again with the bases loaded. A sacrifice fly Winkler drove in Eden Meyers, who pinch hit for Coy, to put the Mustangs up 6-1.
The final run scored in the eighth inning. Following back-to-back singles by Carter Belton and Gundelfinger, Stevens reached base on a fielders choice, and moved to second on a throwing error, while Belton came home to score making it 7-1. The Mustangs on the day outhit the Natty's 8-2, with Luikart going 1-for-2 with a double, a walk, and two RBI's, also stealing a base.
Also at the plate, Gundelfinger was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Winkler was 1-for-3 with two RBI's and a stolen base, but did strikeout two times. Coy finished 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a stolen base. On the mound, Lawson alum Lane Chapman threw four innings and struckout seven, giving up one run and two hits while walking one. Plattsburg alum Keegan Gudde threw one inning, walking one, while Central alum Owen Foster also threw an inning striking out two
The Mustangs are now 7-3 on the season, 5-2 in the MINK League, and will again play the North Missouri Natty's tomorrow at Phil Welch Stadium. First pitch will be at 7pm.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.