The North Central Missouri College Pirates dropped a close game in Sunday afternoon’s opener of a doubleheader at 5th-ranked Crowder College (Neosho, MO), giving up runs in both the 7th and 8th innings of an extra-inning loss, with that disappointment appearing to linger in the nightcap, a 15-0 blowout win for the ‘Riders that dropped the Pirates mark to 19-24 overall and 10-14 in Region XVI play.
In the opener, Pirate reliever Lucas Hampton hit a batter with two outs in the bottom of the 7th, sending Andrew Faustlin to the hill to attempt to record the final out. Unfortunately for NCMC, a double to the gap tied the contest, sending the game to the 8th inning. An infield single by NCMC freshman Deric Killday gave the visitors the lead again, but Crowder scored twice in the bottom half of the frame for the walk-off triumph.
Angel Reyes took the loss for the Pirates in Game #2, with Assistant Coach Ryan Suttenfield commenting to NCMCPirates.com, “We seemed deflated after the first game and we have to work to improve our mental toughness so that doesn’t happen in the future”.
Derek Hussey was 4-for-6 in the doubleheader for North Central, while Enrique Madera, in the Game 1 loss, was 2 for 3 with two RBI’s.
North Central will host Mineral Area College in doubleheaders on Monday and Tuesday, before Sophomore Recognition Day on Thursday afternoon against the Monarchs of Maple Woods.
