The Saint Mary baseball team took four tough losses this weekend at the Joplin Invitational. The Spires fell to Grand View 4-3 and Graceland 6-5 both in nine innings on Saturday. On Sunday, Saint Mary fell to William Penn 17-4 and Midland 9-1.
Saturday was heart breaking for the Spires as they jumped out to leads in both games. Andrew Berry drove a three run double to right center in the third inning against Grand View in the opening game of the weekend. The Spires would not score again however. Grand View scratched across three runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game and eventually earned the 4-3 win with a walk off single in the bottom of the ninth inning. Adam Stebbins had a team high three hits and Guillermo Loera finished with two hits in the loss. Mike Amado tossed eight innings and allowed just three runs, two earned. He struck out three and walked two while allowing nine hits.
Game two saw the Spires jump out to a 5-0 lead. Saint Mary scored one run in the third and four in the fourth. Jeremy Melvin was a perfect four for four at the plate. Isaias Pulido had three hits and Loera had two. Richard Sanchez, Sam Miller, and Melvin each had doubles for the Spires. Alex Knight started on the mound and tossed four innings. He allowed four runs on four hits and issued four walks. Brody Meloy threw two innings in relief allowing one run on three hits. Melvin took the loss on the mound throwing the final three innings. He would allow one run on one hit and walked five. Graceland would trim the lead with four runs in the fifth inning then tied the game with a two out, RBI single in the bottom of the seventh. A bases loaded walk would give Graceland the lead in the ninth, and they would hold on for the 6-5 win.
William Penn jumped on the Spires early on scoring seven runs in the first inning. Saint Mary battled back with four runs in the third inning. Andrew Berry lifted a three run home run to left field in the inning. It was Berry's third home run of the season. Juan Gallardo and Loera each went three for four at the plate to lead the Spires. Stebbins and Miller each hit doubles. Blake Camarena took the loss on the mound. The Saint Mary pitching staff was roughed up for 17 runs on 17 hits in the loss.
In the weekend finale, Saint Mary fell 9-1 to Midland. The Spires took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on Berry's RBI groundout. Midland tiedthe game in the bottom of the inning then added two runs in the fourth, three runs in the fifth, and three more in the seventh. Zach Novis pitched six innings and allowed six runs on 11 hits in the loss. He struck out three and walked none. Kobe Krehbiel pitched one inning in relief allowing three runs. Mel Robles had a team high two hits for the Spires.
Saint Mary will be back in action next weekend against (RV) Central Methodist. The Eagles are 4-4 on the season. Double headers are scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Joplin again. First pitch Friday is scheduled for 1:30pm.
