Rabe drives in four runs as Unity’s offense comes alive in victory over Central

MENDON, Ill. — The Mendon Unity baseball team didn’t let Thursday’s game come down to one play

The Mustangs scored six runs in the second inning and five more in the third to pull away for a 13-1 victory in five innings over Camp Point Central. Unity snapped a four-game losing streak in which it lost twice by one run.

A first-inning RBI groundout by Carter Rolando gave the Mustangs the lead. After the Panthers answered with Nate Peters’ RBI single in the top of the second inning, Unity (11-12) had the first eight batters in the bottom of the second inning reach safely. Two bases-loaded walks and an error allowed three runs to score before Simon Rabe delivered a two-run single. Sawyer Allen’s sacrifice fly plated the other run.

Central (7-19) loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the third, but Avery Frese struck out two and induced an inning-ending groundout to Rolando at first base.

In the bottom of the third, the Mustangs scored five times with two outs, highlighted by Rabe’s two-run triple and Adler Gray’s two-run single.

Rabe finished 3 for 4 with four RBIs, while Rolando drove in three runs. Frese allowed five hits and no earned runs over five innings with eight strikeouts and no walks. Five Central players had a single apiece.