Lohman does it again to open conference play; CBC takes G2

ALTON, IL – Nolan Harding's bat and Barrett Lohman's arm was all the Eutectics needed to win a 2-1 nail-biter in the AMC opener between UHSP and Central Baptist. Harding had a first-inning homerun that held up thanks to another dominant performance on the hill from the Eutectic's ace as he struck out ten to improve to 3-1 on the year. Game two was tight after a solo homerun by Brandon Gibbs in the eighth, but the Mustangs blew it open in the ninth and prevailed 8-1.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

UHSP 2, CENTRAL BAPTIST 1

• The homerun in the first was Harding's first homerun of the season, a no-doubt shot to left-centerfield to put UHSP on top 2-0. Harding had the lone multi-hit game for a Eutectic going 2-for-3 with a run and two driven in. He has now collected a hit in 11 straight games.
• Jaxon Kirkhuff had two of the Mustangs' three hits.
• Lohman managed to work around more traffic late in the game. He worked around an error and a walk in the fifth and left two men on. An inning later, Central Baptist loaded the bases, but with two out Lohman fanned Aaron Prince to keep it a 2-0 game.
• CBC's only run was unearned and came on an infield groundout in the seventh.
• It was the second straight complete game win for Lohman (3-1). He gave up a run on three hits and walked three. He has struck out eight or more in each of his last three outings.
• Aiden Jones fall to 3-1 taking the loss. His line was not bad as he allowed just two runs on six hits, walked three and struck out four.

CENTRAL BAPTIST 8, UHSP 1

• CBC starter Dylan Parton entered the game with 27 strikeouts and just five walks in 26 innings on the year.
• Jaxon Kirkhuff put Central Baptist on top 2-0 with a pair of RBI singles in the second and fourth innings.
• Tristan Calmes battled through six innings and kept the Eutectics in it. Calmes did not have his best stuff but never allowed the big hit as he allowed only two runs on five hits. He walked four and struck out three. Calmes was saddled with the loss as he fell to a 2-3.
• The Mustangs added another in the seventh on a Cesar Franco RBI single to go on top 3-0.
• Parton (5-2) was masterful being lifted after seven frames. He gave only four hits and a walk while striking out half a dozen.
• Brandon Gibbs got UHSP on the board in the eighth with his fourth homerun of the season to cut it to 3-1, but the Eutectics stranded a man at third.
• CBC removed all doubt with a four-run ninth. George Astacio and Cesar Franco had RBI singles to the left side to make it 5-1 and then Aaron Prince lined a hard-hit two-run single off the mitt of a diving Brandon Gibbs at second. It was a double and four straight singles that made it 7-1.

NEXT UP:

The Mustangs (15-12, 1-1 AMC) and Eutectics (8-11, 1-1 AMC) finish out the weekend series with a single 9-inning game at 1:00p on Saturday. UHSP will travel to Illinois Central for a non-conference match on Wednesday before continuing AMC play next weekend with a series at Hannibal-LaGrange.