Mineral Area splits two games at St. Charles

By DONN ADAMSON
Daily Journal Sports Editor

ST. CHARLES — Bobby Tatum stroked a first-pitch home run to lead off the first inning of the first game, but the  Mineral Area Cardinals would still have to come from behind to claim a 6-4 victory. The St. Charles Cougars got their revenge in game two with a 7-2 win.

Tatum’s solo shot stood lonely for four innings as St. Charles took over the lead in the third inning on a three-run home run by clean-up hitter Kenny Bechaud.

The Cardinals tied the game in the fifth with singles by Nick Cox and Mike Bigogno and an infield error by the Cougars.

St. Charles rolled a pair of doubles in the bottom of the fifth by Andrew Keating and Bechaud to retake the lead at 4-3, but three consecutive hits in the top of the sixth leapfrogged the Cardinals into the final score.

Isaac Armstrong reached on an error, and Drew Pixley and Cox each singled with Armstrong scoring. Tatum picked up his second and third RBI of the game with a double.

Aaron Blunt relieved Tyler Beers in the seventh and set down the Cougars, 1-2-3 to preserve the win for Beers and pick up a save for himself.  

The Cardinals grabbed the early lead in game two, too. Blake Pinnon worked his own four-bagger with a walk, two stolen bases and a passed ball to score MAC’s run in the first inning.

Armstrong also made the Cougars’ pitcher pay for a free pass in the fourth inning . Armstrong scored after Korey Domenick singled and Chance Cleveland picked up the RBI also with a single to tie the score at 2-2.

St. Charles had a break-out inning in the fifth. Three singles by Keating, Bechaud and Brian Patrick led off the inning. Will Mulligan hit a double to clear the bases and Ryan Cretin drove in Mulligan for a 6-2 lead. Back-to-back doubles by Adam Arnette and Keating closed out the scoring in the sixth inning.

Mineral Area (20-28) will host Crowder on Thursday.