Although the Mudcats put up three runs in the third and four runs in the fourth, the New Market Muskies stayed on the heels of the Mudcats with only a two run deficit through four innings.
The Muskies were on the board early scoring a run in the top of the third inning, but the Mudcats topped that scoring three of their own. Parker Hafermann led off the bottom half of the third with a ground rule double and advanced to third when Luke Weber reached safely on a sacrifice bunt. With nobody out and a 2-2 count, Jonny Houston singled scoring Hafermann. Then with one out and runners in scoring position, Jake Lehrer joins the hit parade with a base hit that scores Lehrer. A Muskie error allows Houston to score as well.
In the fourth New Market took advantage of several Mudcat errors, put up three hits, and dealt multiple sacrifice situations and in the process strung together four runs putting them ahead through their top half of the fourth by a score of 5-3.
Not to be outdone, the Mudcats battled back in the fourth with a string of hits from Topher Rose, BJ Benz, and Parker Hafermann. Hafermann and Jonny Houston were credited with RBI as a result of their efforts, but the game was broken open again when Cole Bjorge smashed a two-run home run. Jake Lehrer would double in the fourth inning with two outs, but would be left stranded. four runs on four hits would give the Mudcats the advantage 7-5 through four complete innings.
A more defensive game played out from the fifth through the eighth. Tony Vocca would take over for Nate Rost in the fifth, and would go on to strike out two batters that inning. The Mudcats would put a few more hits on the board in the sixth and seventh, but can’t successfully bring any across.
In the eighth inning, Topher Rose would replace Mudcat starter Luke Weber on the hill. Weber faced 32 batters giving up five runs (four earned) on nine hits, walking two, and striking out four. Rose would go on to strike out two batters in the eighth. The Mudcats bats would be silenced in the eighth.
With a two run lead coming into the top of the ninth, Rose has a solid start to the inning striking out the first batter faced followed by a ground out by Andy Henkemeyer. WIth two outs, the wheels come off the wagon. Tony Vocca would single for the Muskies and advance to second on a wild pitch. Nate Rost would reach after being hit by a pitch before Kyle Bergstrom singles scoring Vocca. With a runner on third, the Mudcats would call upon Jonny Houston to take over the pitching duties. A wild pitch by Houston would allow Rost to score. The Muskies continued on with several more hits and the Mudcats suffered several more wild pitches that contributed to their four run inning in the ninth.
With a 9-7 lead going to the bottom of the ninth, the Muskies were able to hold off the Mudcats three up, three down.
WP: Tony Vocca, LP: Topher Rose
With today’s loss, the Mudcats are now 1-1 in DRS league play. They’ll take it on the road for the next four games, first traveling to Union Hill on Friday, May 10th for a 7:30 pm first pitch.
You can find the game’s full boxscore here.