UHSP bullpen falters, as Eutectics and Patriots split Friday DH

ALTON, IL – The Eutectics ace Barrett Lohman took the mound in the opening game of the weekend series against Mission, but it was Brandon Gibbs who rescued UHSP in the first game with a walk-off RBI single for a 5-4 win. In game two, the Eutectics took a 6-5 lead to the seventh following a solid outing from Kyle Smith. But the Patriots orchestrated a two-run rally all with two outs to overtake the Purple and Gold, 7-6. After Mission loaded the bases against Brayden Steves (0-2), Wyatt Waters came on and gave up a two-run single to Grant Merryman as the Patriots earned a split on the day.

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS:

UHSP 5, MISSION 4 (9 INNINGS)

• UHSP took a 2-0 lead in the first as Ethan Harrell (single) and Malcolm Merriwether (groundout) drove in runs.
• Lohman shut down yet another AMC opponent as he went six full innings giving just one run in the fourth. He scattered four hits, walked three and struck out five.
• The Eutectics scored an unearned run in the fifth. Ruben Ogando led off the inning with a double and eventually scored to make it 3-1.
• Gavin Long relieved Lohman to start the seventh. He allowed three runs on two hits in the inning along with a defensive error.
• Trailing to the bottom of the seventh, Jacob Grim re-tied the game with a one-out sac fly to score Jordan Gonzalez who led off the inning with a single.
• A scoreless eighth set up the dramatics in the ninth. Caden Buxton dropped a leadoff single just inside the leftfield line. After a walk and a sacrifice, Gibbs plugged the left-centerfield gap to easily score Buxton with the game ending run.
• Logan Stribling picked up his first decision of the season with the win going 1.1IP, 1H, 1BB, 1K.
• Jackson Vestal was solid on the mound for Mission going beyond regulation and lasting eight innings. He yielded four run, three earned on seven hits. He struck out five Eutectics and walked one.
• Garrett Hunter (3-6) took the loss allowing the ninth inning run on a pair of hits with a walk.
• Holden Campbell was the lone Eutectic with a multi-hit game going 2-for-4 and a run scored.

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS:

MISSION 7, UHSP 6

• Kyle Smith got the start for UHSP after last starting against Missouri Baptist last Friday. He tossed six innings giving five runs, three earned. He scattered five hits while walking and fanning a pair.
• Josh Buxton started on the mound for Mission and went three innings and saw his line charged for two earned runs, four total on four hits. He walked three and fanned four.
• After Mission took an early 3-0 lead, UHSP scored four in the home half of the third to lead by one. Jacob Grim singled in a run, Ruben Ogando drove in a run on a fielder's choice and two more runs scored on an error at short by Merryman.
• A run in the fourth and another in the sixth put MU in front 5-4, but in the sixth, the Euts tied the game on another error at shortstop and then with two outs, Grim stuck out but reached first on a wild pitch which brought in the go-ahead run.
• Josh Buxton started for the Pats and lasted just three innings. UHSP scored four runs against him on four hits, he walked three and struck out four.
• Ian Brown (3-0) tossed the final two innings to pick up the win. He allowed a pair of unearned runs on two hits with two strikeouts.

UP NEXT:

The weekend series continues on Saturday as the Eutectics (9-15, 6-8 AMC) and Patriots (14-6, 9-5 AMC) play another scheduled doubleheader at 1:00p. After the weekend, UHSP will play nine of the next ten away from home beginning with a single game on Tuesday at Fontbonne (1-8) at 6:00p.