Eutectics Drop Offensive Marathon to Wildcats

ALTON, ILL. – When the St. Louis weather forecast turned warm, the Eutectic baseball team invited the Culver-Stockton College Wildcats to town for a single nine-inning game at Lloyd Hopkins Field on Tuesday evening. After three hours and 20 minutes for a game that included 30 runs, 33 hits, seven errors (all by CSC), and 12 pitchers, the Wildcats held a two-run advantage to take home the 16-14 victory for their season-opener.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

• In their first at-bat, the Wildcat bats put five runs on the board. But, the Eutectic offense also hit the ground running, earning six hits, including a home run by Deklan Riggs, in the bottom of the inning scoring six to take the lead. The UHSP team then scored one more in the second inning to go up 7-5.
• CSC evened the score in the top of the third and scored three more in each of the next two at-bats to reclaim a lead they would not give up for the rest of the game.
• Down 13-7 in the fifth, the Eutectics had their most productive inning, scoring five runs off four hits and two errors to come within one run of the Wildcats at 13-12.
• After three scoreless innings, CSC scored three more off three hits in the top of the ninth to go up 16-12. Brandon Gibbs started off the Euts' final at-bat with a home run over the left-center fence. With one out, Jacob Grim's double put runners in position to score, but the UHSP offense could only push one more across the plate before the final putout.
• UHSP short stop Sebastian Villegas went 4-5 on the night, scoring two runs. Jacob Grim went 3-4 at the plate, including two doubles, two RBIs, and two runs, while Brandon Gibbs also went 3-4, adding two RBIs, and two runs. Holden Campbell recorded two of UHSP's five stolen bases.
• Seven pitchers hurled for the Eutectics, with John McGee taking the longest turn with 3.1 innings and notching four of the UHSP pitchers' 12 total strikeouts and giving up three hits and three runs, walking one.
• The Wildcats gave five different pitchers a turn on the mound. Brayden Prott had the longest stint at 3.1 innings, recording three of CSC's eight strikeouts, and giving up two runs on six hits, walking one.

UP NEXT:

The Eutectics are now 2-3 overall heading into the weekend's four-game home series against St. Xavier University of Chicago, Ill., (3-5) starting Friday at 12 p.m. in Alton, Ill.