Mustangs overcome slow start to defeat Mudcats

The St. Joseph Mustangs return to Phil Welch and get their four-game homestand started on a strong note, defeating Chillicothe 8-3 Wednesday night.

Like other games at Phil Welch in the early part of the season, it was the opposing team in Chillicothe that was the aggressor in the first couple of innings. 

Mudcats third baseman Derin Douchet opened the scoring seal with an RBI double in the top of the second inning, but it was what transpired after the first run of the game came across home plate that stood out. With the ball still in play, the Mudcats sent the runner that stood on second during the Douchet at bat to home to get themselves another run on the board. However, the greediness cost the Mudcats as the runner from second was thrown out at home plate and Chillicothe would only come away with one run in the inning.

While the first two and a half innings belonged to the Mudcats, the majority of the contest was taken by the reins by St. Joseph. The bottom of the third saw the Mustangs bring four runs across home plate, all of which were on RBIs.

St. Joseph would go on to add a run in the bottom of the fifth and three more in the bottom of the seventh.

Chillicothe would score just two more runs the rest of the way including one run in the top of the ninth, but the hole was too deep for a Mudcats comeback.

The win on Wednesday improves the Mustangs’ record to 7-1 overall. St Joseph will play their second of the four-game homestand on Thursday night in a rematch with the Kansas City Monarchs.