C-SC baseball team tied for eighth in conference after doubleheader split with Missouri Valley

CANTON, Mo. — The Culver-Stockton baseball team scored three runs each in the fifth and sixth innings to overcome a 6-4 deficit and defeat Missouri Valley College 10-6 in the first game of a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader on Friday at Nichols Field.

In the second game, the Wildcats were limited to two hits by Vikings starter Tanner Duncan in a 6-0 Missouri Valley victory. The split leaves C-SC (16-21, 10-15 in the Heart) in a tie for eighth place in the Heart with Clarke.

In the opener, C-SC trailed 1-0 after the Vikings scored on a sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning. The Wildcats responded with four hits and a walk to plate four runs in the bottom of the inning. Jaison Andujar had an RBI double, Jordan Scott and Jeremiah Morris had RBI singles, and Bryan Barreto’s groundout scored a run.

The Vikings tied the score with three hits and two walks in the second inning, then plated single runs in the third and fourth innings to take a 6-4 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, C-SC regained the lead. Kirk singled and moved to third on a two-out hit by Meny. Scott was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Barreto then drilled a double down the left-field line for a three-run double to give the Wildcats a 7-6 lead.

C-SC added three insurance runs in sixth inning Ryan Osso singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Wyatt Wright. However, wright reached on a throwing error by the pitcher.

Noble Oxford then laid down an bunt that the Vikings’ pitcher threw wildly to third, allowing Osso and Wright to score. Another error allowed Oxford to circle the bases.

Gavin Reames earned the victory, allowing two runs on three hits in three scoreless innings. Jarod Marty hurled two scoreless innings to end the game and earn his second save.

Oxford had three hits, Osso collected two hits and Barreto finished with four runs batted in.

Duncan allowed one hit, a leadoff triple by Kirk in the fourth inning, over the first six innings of the second game. Osso has the Wildcats’ other hit, a single to start the seventh inning.

The Vikings and Wildcats are scheduled to finish a four-game series on Saturday, April 19, with another doubleheader at Nichols Field. The first game is slated to begin at noon.