UHSP can't close the show after big win Fri., HLGU takes two on Sat.

HANNIBAL, MO – The Hannibal-LaGrange Trojans rebounded on Saturday to sweep a doubleheader from the Eutectics and take the three-game weekend set, two games to one. UHSP dominated the series opener on Friday and blasted the Trojans 22-8, but HLGU bounced back with 2-1 and 11-9 wins in their American Midwest Conference weekend series.

Defense was an issue for the Purple and Gold as they committed eight errors in the two games combined on Saturday. Malcolm Merriweather drove in the lone Eutectic rum in the opening game with an RBI single in the fourth inning. A two-run bottom of the fourth was all that Hannibal-LaGrange needed to take the opener behind Cole Thompson who tossed six strong innings of four-hit ball allowing just an unearned run with a walk while fanning six. Tristan Calmes' line was almost just as impressive as he struck out seven, walked two, scattered five hits and allowed two runs, one earned. Four different Eutectic hitters each had a single as UHSP was out-hit, 5-4.

The second game saw UHSP jump out to a quick four-run lead, but a combined eight runs in the middle innings for the Trojans against Eutectic starter Barrett Lohman was enough to seal the deal for Hannibal-LaGrange. Jovonnie Bautista went 2-for-5 for UHSP and opened the scoring with an RBI double. Logan Stribling plated Bautista with a single down the left field line and Nolan Harding followed with a two-run double. The Trojans got half those runs back in the bottom of the second as Dylan Garcia singled in a pair. A four-run third for HLGU was highlighted by a two-run homerun from Charlie Culp while Isaiah Hoelscher blasted a two-run homer in the fourth and the Trojans scored two more runs in the fifth that were both unearned to take a 10-6 lead. The Eutectics had a pair of homeruns themselves in the fourth as Robert Uhlmeyer and Bautista both delivered solo bombs in the fourth. UHSP tried to rally late in the eighth inning with the longball as Jordan Gonzalez drilled a two-run job to left and Caden Buxton followed with another homer to left to climb to within a run at 10-9. But Cole Trautman delivered a pinch-hit RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to earn a sweep of the doubleheader. Holden Cambell and Nolan Harding each went 3-for-5 in the loss. Adam Lange got the win going the first seven innings for HLGU striking out three but surrendering six runs on 11 hits while walking two. Lohman took the loss for UHSP over four-and-two-thirds allowing ten runs, seven earned, walking two and fanning three while giving up 11 hits.

It will be a single game against Missouri Valley (14-24, 3-19) next for the Eutectics (9-24, 2-13 AMC) on Tuesday at 3:00p and then it is back to American Midwest Conference play on Saturday when they open a three-game weekend series at Harris-Stowe.