Losses to Grove, Okla., and Providence Academy of Rogers, Ark., on April 15 dropped the McDonald County High School baseball team to 6-10 for the season.
The Mustangs jumped out to leads in both of Saturday's games at Grove, but couldn't hold on for a win in either contest.
In the opener, McDonald County scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie, but eventually fell 5-4 when the Ridgerunners scored two runs in the fifth, two in the sixth and plated the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.
"I thought this was a game we should of won," said coach Nick Martin. "Charlie Moore threw pretty well coming off an injury. Tyler Stoutsenberger continues to swing the bat well. He had three of our six hits."
Emanuel Baisch reached on an error to start the Mustangs' three-run fourth. Stoutsenberger followed with a double to drive in the game's first run. Boston Dowd drove in Stoutsenberger with a single and came around to score when Grove's catcher left the plate when he thought Jon Martin's strikeout was the third out of the inning instead of the second out.
Grove cut the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two runs on three hits and an error.
McDonald County stretched its lead to 4-2 in the top of the sixth. Stoutsenberger stroked his second double of the game and scored on a groundout by Micah Burkholder.
But Grove tied the game in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two runs on a walk and two hits before scoring the winning run in the bottom of the seventh on a hit batter, a bunt hit, an intentional walk and a sacrifice fly.
Moore went six innings without getting a decision, allowing four runs on five hits. A.J. Madewell got the loss, hitting one batter and allowing a bunt hit to start the seventh before Brandon Burt finished.
In addition to Stoutsenberger's three hits, McDonald County received one hit each from Jordan Platter, Dowd and Oakley Roessler.
McDonald County is at Aurora on April 20 before hosting Rogers Heritage on April 21 and Joplin and Siloam Springs on April 22.
Providence
In the Mustangs' second game of the doubleheader, Providence Academy overcame a 4-0 start to claim a 10-8 win.
McDonald County scored two runs in the first and second innings, but Providence came back with two runs in the third, five in the fourth and two in the fifth to take a 9-4 lead. McDonald County battled back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit to 9-7 before both teams scored a run in the sixth to make the final 10-8.
"When you score eight runs you should be able to win," Martin said. "Give credit to Providence -- they swung the bats well. On the bright side, I think we are starting to swing the bats better ourselves."
Singles by Jaime Hanke and Stoutsenberger set the table for Dowd's two-run single in the first. Ty Shaver was hit by a pitch to start the Mustangs' second-inning rally. Hanke and Stoutsenberger followed with their second hit in two innings to put the Mustangs up 4-0.
But Providence came back to take a 9-4 lead off McDonald County starter Grant Cooper and Burt, who relieved in the fifth, before the Mustangs closed to 9-7 with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Burkholder doubled in a run and Baisch singled in a run and scored on an error to key the inning.
After Providence stretched its lead to 10-7 with an unearned run in the top of the sixth off of Michael Steeves, McDonald County scored its final run in the bottom half of the inning on a single by Hanke, an error and a sacrifice fly by Stoutsenberger.
Cooper took the loss, allowing seven runs on nine hits in four innings. The Mustangs' offense was led by Hanke with three hits while Stoutsenberger, Baisch and Roessler had two hits each. Burkholder, Dowd and Shaver all added one hit each.
Cassville
McDonald County opened Big 8 Conference play last week by splitting a pair of conference games, including claiming a 12-4 win over Cassville on April 13 at Cassville.
Hanke got the win, allowing four runs, only one earned, on six hits in seven innings. McDonald County pounded out 12 hits, including three from Martin and two each by Hanke, Dowd and Roessler while Platter, Baisch and Stoutsenberger all had one.
Cassville took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first but McDonald County took control of the game with three in the second, three more in the third and one in the fourth before breaking the game open with a five-run fifth.
"We did a great job at the plate," Martin said. "The kids responded well after giving up a run in the first. Hanke had another quality start."
East Newton
The Patriots spoiled McDonald County's conference opener by beating the Mustangs 4-0 on April 11 at MCHS.
Tyler Sellers took the loss, allowing four unearned runs in seven innings. The senior right-hander struck out 10 and walked four.
East Newton's Chance Liveoak shut out the Mustangs on six hits, striking out six and walking one.
Hanke had three of the Mustangs' six hits while Martin, Dowd and James King each had one.
Lamar
Lamar scored three runs in the first inning and went on to claim a 5-2 win over McDonald County on April 17 at Lamar High School.
Sellers took the loss, allowing five runs on four hits and seven walks while striking out 10 in four and a third innings. Madewell worked the final inning and two-thirds, shutting out the Tigers on one hit.
McDonald County was held to two runs on six hits, including two from Baisch and one each from Hanke, Platter, Burkholder and Shaver.
Platter singled and scored on a hit by Baisch in the first for McDonald County's first run. Baisch singled and scored on a fielder's choice by Dowd in the fifth for the Mustangs' final run.
After scoring three runs in the first, Lamar added insurance runs in the second and fifth innings.
Sports on 04/20/2017