ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Griffon Baseball (5-5) secured back-to-back series victories Sunday at the Spring Sports Complex, taking the three-game series from St. Cloud State 2-1. The Griffons split the day's doubleheader, rallying for a dramatic 9-8 walk-off win in game one before dropping a 5-3 decision in the nightcap
Game 1: MoWest 9 St. Cloud State 8
The Huskies struck first with a solo home run in the opening inning and added two more runs in the second to build a 3-0 advantage.
MWSU responded in the second when Issac Huettl doubled to left field, driving in Miguel Cantu to make it 3-1. In the third, Jack Mausser singled to left field to score Luke Parmentier, trimming the deficit to 3-2.
The Griffons evened the score in the fourth as Parmentier drew an RBI walk that brought home Issac Sobieszczyk. Later in the inning, a wild pitch allowed Juan Guardado to score, giving MWSU a 4-3 lead.
Huettl came through again in the fifth with an RBI double to left center, plating Cantu and extending the Griffon lead to 5-3.
St. Cloud State answered with a four-run sixth inning. An RBI single tied the game before a three-run triple pushed the Huskies ahead 7-5. A wild pitch added another run, making it 8-5.
The Griffons began their comeback in the eighth when Luke Shannahan homered to right field, cutting the deficit to 8-6.
In the ninth, MWSU completed the rally. Cantu singled to right field to score Dylan Coty and make it a one-run game. Huettl followed with an RBI single that plated Blake Venneman to tie the score at 8-8. Moments later, Shannahan delivered the game-winner, singling to right field to bring home Mausser and seal the 9-8 victory in walk-off fashion.
Ben Ayala (W, 1-1) tossed 4.0 innings in relief, giving up six hits and four earned runs while striking out five and not issuing a walk on 56 pitches.
Game 2: MoWest 3 St. Cloud State 5
The Griffons came up short in game two of Saturday's doubleheader, falling 5-3 after St. Cloud State used a big second inning to take control.
MWSU opened the scoring in the first when Cantu drew an RBI walk, allowing Mausser to score to put the Griffons in front 1-0.
St. Cloud State answered in the second with a two-run home run and later added a sacrifice fly in the inning to move ahead 3-1. The Huskies extended their lead with a solo home run in the fifth and an RBI single in the sixth to make it 5-1.
The Griffons answered in the bottom of the sixth. Shannahan stole second and Cantu stole third, and both scored on a catcher's throwing error into left field, trimming the deficit to 5-3.
MWSU threatened but could not plate another run down the stretch as St. Cloud State secured the second game of the doubleheader
What's Next
Griffon Baseball heads to Pittsburg, Kansas, for a three-game MIAA opening series at Pittsburg State next weekend. First pitch is set for Friday at 2 p.m., followed by a 1 p.m. start on Saturday and a 1 p.m. finale on Sunday.
