As heard on Genuine Country 94.3 WMKR...
The Central A&M baseball team snapped a five-game losing streak thanks to a walk-off 4-3 win at home to Meridian on Tuesday. The Raiders recovered in the seventh inning from their only deficit of the game thanks in large part to fielding errors from the away side.
The teams traded runs across the first four innings as the teams were level at two apiece entering the sixth. In that inning, Meridian pulled ahead when Grady Stock - who himself had begun pitching in relief in the previous half-inning - singled home Ted Jones. It was his second RBI, having also driven in the tying run in the fourth.
Central A&M entered the bottom of the seventh needing to score to stay alive. With Marshall Minott at second, Kadyn Higgins reached on an error. Having attempted a steal on that play, Minott saw an opportunity to careen home and reached safely to tie the game.
With two outs in the inning, Higgins made his own steal attempt of third and met a throw which went astray into the outfield. This afforded him time to score the winning run, sparking jubilant scenes from the Raider dugout.
Minott put together three hits - of which two were doubles - and scored three runs, making him an easy choice for Seitz Funeral Homes Player of the Game. Rhett McLain started the game and gave up two earned runs on five hits and three walks with eight strikeouts in six innings of work. As the seventh-inning relief pitcher, Eli Ferguson received the win and did not concede a hit in his one inning despite allowing a runner to reach third through a walk, passed ball, and wild pitch.
For Meridian, Wyatt Martin pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up an earned run on six hits and five walks with two strikeouts.
Central A&M improves to 5-8 overall and picks up its first conference win in four attempts on the season. The side travels to Warrensburg-Latham for another Central Illinois Conference matchup next. Meridian drops to 7-9 and has managed just one win in their last nine. They travel to Clinton for their next game.
