Epic rally allows Mustangs to keep win streak alive with extra-inning victory

BUSHNELL, Ill. — With two runners on base and two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Bushnell-Prairie City baseball team was one run away from a 10-run rule victory.

The Spartans didn’t get it, and that gave Mendon Unity new life.

The Mustangs scored five times in the top of the sixth, tied the game with four runs in the top of the seventh and won it with a three-run outburst in the eighth, securing a 15-12 victory that extended their winning streak to 12 games.

It turned into a game of survival at its best.

A ground ball to second baseman Avery Frese got the Mustangs (13-2) out of the fifth inning with a glimmer of hope. In the sixth, two of the first three Unity batters got out before a rally ignited. Simon Rabe walked and Cody Shaffer singled to load the bases.

A passed ball allowed Elijah Parsons, who had reached on an error earlier in the inning, to score, and Rabe scooted home on Ben McClelland’s RBI single. Sawyer Allen drove in Shaffer with a single, and after a walk reloaded the bases, Skylor Goudschaal and Miles Moulton smacked back-to-back RBI singles.

Allen retired the Spartans in order in the bottom of the inning, and Frese got the Mustangs’ four-run rally in the seventh started with a double. Rabe singled and Shaffer hit into a fielder’s choice, but an error allowed Frese to score. McClelland singled and was part of a double steal. Shaffer scored three pitches later on a wild pitch.

Arnsman scored the tying run on Allen’s single.

Allen again put the Spartans down in order in the seventh. In the eighth, Moulton led off with a single and went to second on Parsons’ sacrifice bunt. After a walk to Frese, Rabe grounded into a fielder’s choice, leaving runners at the corners with two outs.

Shaffer tripled to right field for a two-run advantage and then scored on McClelland’s single.

Allen allowed a walk and a single to two of the first three B-PC batters in the bottom of the eighth, but he ended the game with a pair of strikeouts.

McClelland went 4 for 5 with three RBIs, while Shaffer finished 3 for 5 with four runs scored and three RBIs. Allen also went 3 for 5, while striking out five and allowing one hit over five innings of relief to earn the victory.