Eutectics Clinch Series with Hornets

(Photo courtesy of Michael Morales)

ST. LOUIS, MO - After splitting a doubleheader with the Harris-Stowe State University Hornets (2-26, 1-17 AMC) on Saturday, the Eutectic baseball team clinched the three-game American Midwest Conference (AMC) series with a 9-4 victory over the Hornets on Sunday at Stars Park in St. Louis.

The Eutectics never fell behind in the game, going up 2-1 in the first inning, enduring a 2-2 tie after the second, but eventually regaining the lead in the sixth, and capping off the game with another two runs in their last at-bat to seal the win. Led by Malcolm Merriweather's 2-for-3 outing with a home run three RBIs, the Eutectics outhit the Hornets 15-12 in the game. UHSP pitchers Barrett Lohman (starter, five innings) and Jordan Gonzalez (reliever, four innings) combined for eight strikeouts in the game, while the Eutectic offense held the Hornet pitchers to four.

After stellar hitting in Saturday's doubleheader, Robert Uhlmeyer led off Sunday's game with a single to right center. Four batters later, Malcolm Merriweather hit a two-RBI single to center, sending Uhlmeyer and Holden Campbell across the plate. The Hornets were able to put one on the board in the bottom of the inning after a double and a single, but starting pitcher Barrett Lohman was able to finish off the inning with a strikeout to hold the 2-1 lead.

The Eutectics were scoreless in the top of the second, but after two singles and a sacrifice fly,  the Hornets were able to tie it up in the bottom before Lohman, again, struck out the final batter of the inning.

With the score still tied 2-2 after another three scoreless innings, Merriweather blasted a home run over the left field fence in the top of the sixth. Then, Ruben Ogando double to right center to score Nolan Harding and give the Eutectics a 4-2 lead. The Hornets struck again in the bottom half off the inning, scoring one run off two hits to make it 4-3.

Undeterred, the Eutectics followed up with their biggest inning at the plate. Hits from Dustin Aleck (two RBI double), Harding, Caden Buxton, and Ogando (RBI single) combined to push three runs across the plate to give the Purple and Gold a 7-3 lead. HSSU responded with two hits and one run in the bottom of the seventh before a scoreless eighth inning by both teams.

The Eutectics tacked on two more runs in their final at-bat off hits from Barrett Bressette, Harding, and Aleck, and an RBI sac fly from Buxton. The UHSP defense was able to hold the home team scoreless in their own final at-bat, with Gonzalez finishing off the game with two strikeouts.

Merriweather was joined in the multi-hit club by teammates Uhlmeyer (3-for-5, 1 run), Harding (2-for-3 1 RBI, 3 runs), Aleck (3-for-5, 2 RBIs, 1 run), and Ogando (3-for-5, 2 RBIs).

Reliever Jordan Gonzalez picks up the win for the Eutectics, striking out five, walking three, allowing four hits and two earned runs in the final four innings.

Now 11-25 overall and 4-14 in the Conference, the Eutectics will next play a rescheduled non-conference game on Tuesday. UHSP will host Missouri Valley College (14-30) at Stars Park with the first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m.