The best closer in the conference, Bryan Young, enters the bottom of the 9th with a six-run lead for Missouri State. He already threw 48 pitches in the first game against Indiana State, retiring 8 hitters. This opponent, Illinois State, is the home team in this game and hits last.
Just a dropped ball at short. One runner waits at first. Then Nick Zouras lines out to the same defender, who flings the ball to first to catch the runner on his way back. Only, that ball skips past the first baseman and bounces off the barrier between the field and the stands. The runner turns around and takes third on the play.
Hunter Steinmetz catches the sacrifice fly and the Redbirds cut the lead to five. Two outs, though.
Young pauses to ties his shoelace, and he walks the batter. Something’s off.
Alex Moore, a freshman, takes the hill, looking for an out. He hasn’t pitched for three weeks. One out.
Joe Aeilts hits a ball to short and beats the throw. Infield single. In the dugout Young wraps his arm in cold packs and plastic. First and second with Ryan Hutchinson up.
Two quick strikes. Behind me the Missouri State bus driver yells, “Finish him!” The pitch is inside. The catcher picks the next ball just off the dust. Then it’s low and away. Then it’s just low.
So is the crowd, gathered at Missouri State’s home field with the bases loaded and Illinois State’s top hitter, Owen Miller, at bat. He hits it to deep short –
There is no play. 8-4. Derek Parola cracks a sinking liner to left fielder Alex Jefferson, and when it skips past him two runners score.
8-6. Runners on at second and third. Winning run at the plate in Collin Braithwaite, the ninth hitter to bat in an inning that began 8-2.
Conference pitcher of the year Jake Fromson jogs in.
One swing and Missouri State loses its second game to the 8th seed, and its third in a week to the Redbirds. Out of the tournament.
First swing, and Braithwaite grounds out to third. Ballgame.
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