The Chillicothe Mudcats scored four runs in three separate innings, and finished off a banner offensive day with three runs in the 9th, part of a 16-7 win over Branson that gave the MINK League North leading Mudcats a three-game sweep of the series in Bolivar.
In Wednesday night’s contest, the Nationals took an early 2-0 lead, scoring single runs in the 2nd and 3rd innings, but Chillicothe erupted in four runs in the 4th and four more in the 5th to rip control of the game away from Branson. Back-to-back doubles by Jake Biller and Nick Banman keyed the fourth inning surge, with a two-run homer by Biller highlighting the 5th innings.
Biller ended the day with four runs scored, three hits, and three RBI’s. The game was sloppy, with both teams committing four errors. Caleb Bounds picked up the win for Chillicothe, pitching the first five innings, giving up five hits and three runs, two of them earned, with three walks and four strikeouts.
Chillicothe, pounding out 17 hits in the win, will continue its road swing with a pair of games tonight (Thursday night) at the Ozark Generals, starting at 6 o’clock.
Other MINK League finals from Wednesday night were St. Joseph over Clarinda, 10-4; and Joplin over Nevada by a score of 2-1. On Thursday night, Clarinda hosts the Omaha Strike Zone, Sedalia travels to Nevada, and St. Joseph is at Joplin.
