Merchants score 5 in ninth to clinch first extra-inning win
In order for the Merchants to win their fifth game in a row, The Boys in Blue had to do something they haven’t been able to accomplish all season long — win in extra innings.
After being held in check through the first five, the Merchants rallied to score the tying and go-ahead runs over the final two innings, taking a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh.
Another late-inning lead slipped in the seventh, but this time it was the Merchants who found a way to come out on top, edging Baxter Springs Kan., 9-5, in nine innings on a absolutely gorgeous Sunday afternoon at Carl Lewton Stadium.
Such is life when things are going you’re way. And everything has been going Carthage’s way lately.
The Merchants wasted little time dispatching Baxter Springs, 10-0, in the afternoon contest.
“I thought we played really well,” said coach James Kinder. “We hit the ball well, we just couldn’t seem to get a timely hit early.”
Sunday’s doubleheader was originally scheduled to be played at Baxter Springs, but a scheduling conflict moved the game to Carthage.
In the opener, Carthage wasted several opportunities to push across runs early due to inept base running.
Starter Josh Mason tightened up after allowing two runs in the first. Mason pitched 6 1/3 innings, striking out six and walking only two, but received a no decision for his effort.
“Hats off to Josh for coming in and giving us six really good innings,” Kinder said. “He really settled down and looked like the Josh of old ... that’s good to see.”
Carthage, acting as the visiting team, was held scoreless by starter Jordan Krokroskia — a left-hander — through the first five innings.
Tadd Wagner, who replaced Kyle Wicklund in the order in the bottom of the fifth, riffled an RBI double to left — scoring Stephen Poston — to put the Merchants on the board in the sixth.
“It took us a while, (Baxter Springs’) pitcher did a nice job keeping us off balanced,” Kinder explained. “He was getting his breaking ball over (for a strike), and when you do that, you’re going to be successful.”
Krokroskia had thrown more than 94 pitches through six innings, though. And promptly issued a leadoff walk to Mason in the Merchants’ seventh. An error, a bunt single, a sacrifice fly and a double by Josh Collins led to three runs, giving the Merchants a two-run lead, 4-2, with only three outs to go.
It wasn’t that easy.
Baxter Springs scored two runs in the last half of the seventh to tie the game, sending the contest to extra innings.
Krokroskia was taxed by the time he took the mound in the eighth, and was pulled with one out.
Baxter Springs’ bullpen imploded in the ninth, allowing five runs.
With the win in the afternoon tilt, the Merchants have won six in a row and six of seven — all at Carl Lewton Stadium.
