Eutectics Rout Trojans in First of Three-Game Series in Hannibal

The Eutectic baseball team earned its second American Midwest Conference (AMC) victory of the season on Friday, crushing the Hannibal-LaGrange University Trojans (7-21, 2-11 AMC) 22-8 in eight innings in Hannibal, Mo.

The Eutectic offense started out hot against HLGU starting pitcher Justin Mattingly, using eight hits, including two hits and an RBI by Jabez King, and three errors to score 10 runs in just the first two innings. The Trojans, meanwhile, scored six runs against UHSP starter Braden Thomas off six hits and an error to make it 10-6 heading into the top of the third.

The Eutectic scoring bonanza came to a halt in the third inning when relief pitcher Rylan Hankins took over on the mound for the home team. UHSP's Thomas gave up one home run in the bottom of the inning to show 10-7 on the board.

After a scoreless fourth inning, Robert Uhlmeyer stepped up to the plate as the Eutectics' first batter in the top of the fifth and blasted his second home run of the season, putting the Euts up 11-7. Brayden Steves took over pitching for the Eutectics in the bottom of the inning, allowing only one hit and no runs.

In the top of the sixth, singles from King and Nolan Harding put them in position for Michael Morales' one-out two-RBI double. Morales then scored on a groundout by the next batter, putting the Euts up 14-7 before the third out.

In the top of the seventh, after another pitching change by the Trojans, hits from Harding, Caden Buxton, and Uhlmeyer, plus a Trojan error, pushed another three runs across the plate to make it 17-7. The Trojans put together some offense in the bottom of the inning, notching two doubles and a single to score one run and reduce the UHSP lead to nine (17-8).

But, in the top of the eighth, the Eutectics recorded four hits and took full advantage of two walks, a wild pitch, and a hit-by-pitch to score another five runs and take an insurmountable lead of 22-8. After Steves and the Eutectic defense held the Trojans scoreless in the bottom of the eighth, the game was called in favor of UHSP.

Jabez King went 4-for-6 at the plate for the Eutectics, while Nolan Harding was 2-for-4 with five runs, and Caden Buxton went 3-for-6 with six RBIs on the day.

Braden Thomas earned the victory on the mound for UHSP, allowing seven hits, five earned runs, one strikeout, and one walk in four innings. Brayden Steves pitched the next four innings, allowing four hits, one earned run, one walk, and three strikeouts. The Trojans tried out five pitchers in the game, but the loss was charged to starter Justin Mattingly. 

The Eutectics, now 9-22 overall and 2-11 in the AMC, will return to HLGU's Nichols Field on Saturday for a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.