St. Louis CC sweeps four-game series with NCMC

St. Louis Community College, playing on its home turf in Kirkwood, Missouri this weekend, took a four-game sweep over the visiting North Central Missouri College Pirates, dropping NCMC’s record to 6-27 for the 2016 spring season.

In Saturday’s opener, the Archers took the Pirates down early, scoring five runs in the bottom of the 2nd and adding 3 more runs in the bottom of the 3rd, part of an 11-1 victory.  Seth Mesey picked up the victory, throwing a four-hitter against North Central, giving up only a third inning run.  He struck out six Pirates in six innings of work, as the game was called by the run rule after the Archers scored once in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Anferney Hoeve took the loss for NCMC. He allowed eight runs in three innings, walked four and struck out four.  The Pirates’ lone run of the ballgame came in the third inning on an RBI single by Landon Figg.  For St. Louis, cleanup hitter Cory Canterbury had three RBI’s, a home run, and two runs scored.

In Saturday’s second game, the Pirates offense was silenced by St. Louis starter Jordan Yakel, who threw a three-hit shutout and struck out eight in a 9-0 win.  The Archers led 1-0 after 3 innings, but four runs in the fourth and four more in the sixth put the Pirates hopes of a road win on the back burner.    Casey Thomason had three RBI’s while Shane Pollard scored twice for St. Louis.

For NCMC, Zach Lehmann was 2 for 3 at the plate, but Maverich Lourens ended up on the wrong side of the pitching decision, charged with the loss. He lasted just three innings, walked none, struck out three, and allowed five runs.

St. Louis continued its dominating play in Sunday’s opener, winning 10-1.  Catcher David Prost had a two-run single to get the Archers going in the bottom of the first inning, part of a three-run uprising that gave the home team a 3-0 lead.  The Pirates got an RBI single by Figg, scoring Derek Hussey in the third inning, but a five spot in the fifth inning by St. Louis put the game out of reach.  Gordon Arthaud took the loss for NCMC, twirling 4 1/3 innings, walking four, striking out six, and allowing five runs.  For St. Louis, Joseph Lodes pitched the first five innings, striking out seven, to earn the win.  Andrew Basler pitched a scoreless sixth inning.  Jason Wood pitched 1 2/3 innings out of the North Central bullpen, giving up six runs on three hits, striking out three.  Only three of the Wood runs allowed were earned.

The Pirates showed more competitiveness in Sunday’s finale, outhitting the Archers, 7-5, but fell by a final score of 7-3.  Like a nightmare stuck on repeat, North Central fell behind in the bottom of the first inning, giving up three runs, with two scoring on a single by St. Louis third baseman Shane Pollard.  Two more runs in the second put the Pirates behind 5-0.

North Central’s offense came to life in the middle innings, scoring twice in the fourth inning and once in the fifth, closing the advantage to 5-3.  Single tallies by the Archers in the 7th and 8th innings left the scoreboard at its final mark of 7-3.  Smith Kemper had a sacrifice fly for the Pirates in the fourth inning.  Dennis Pogue had a double and single in four at-bats.  Jared Corbett, Zach Lehmann, and Derek Hussey scored runs for NCMC.

Kylan Easley took the loss for the Pirates, going the first six innings, giving up four hits and five runs, with four walks and seven strikeouts.  Andrew Faustlin and Wyatt Thomas combined for the final two innings.  Faustlin was charged with two runs, one earned, and three walks.  Joey Reeves went the first six innings for St. Louis, earning the victory.  Jason Stuckmeyer threw three shutout innings at NCMC to earn the save.  

The Pirates return home to take on the visiting Highland Community College Scotties in a single 9 inning game on Tuesday afternoon at Burleigh Grimes Field.  First pitch is scheduled for 1 o’clock.