Murphysboro rallies past Patriots as Massac drops two to SIRR front-runners

Noah Melcher delivered a bases-clearing double in the first inning and staked the Patriots to a three-run lead. Murphysboro scored once in the first and second innings, then took the lead with two runs in the fourth. The Red Devils added on three more in the fifth and a single in the sixth for the final tally of 8-3.

After giving up the three first inning runs, Murphysboro’s starting pitcher Corbin Compardo settled down and shut out the Patriots until giving way to Sam Herring in the sixth inning.

For Massac, Melcher and Luke Maurer each had two hits with Melcher driving in all of Massac’s runs. Andy Girot started on the mound for Massac and took the loss. Girot went four innings and freshman Zach Maurer threw the last two innings.

Murphysboro suffered its first conference loss Monday, April 18, losing 6-5 in eight innings to Herrin.

From one front-runner to another, Massac tangled with perennial contender Harrisburg on Monday, April 17.

The Bulldogs ground out a 2-0 win over Massac last week, on April 10, but Monday’s game didn’t resemble the last one as Harrisburg rolled to a 12-1 five-inning win. Monday’s game started well enough as the two teams were tied up at one run apiece through the first three innings. But the fourth frame saw Harrisburg send 12 men to the plate, scoring seven runs against Massac starter Maurer. Maurer retired the leadoff man in the fourth, but then the wheels came off as the ‘Dawgs banged out seven straight hits.

Meanwhile, the Harrisburg starter was holding Massac County in check. The Patriots parlayed a couple of walks and a single by Trevor Hertter into their lone run in the fourth inning. Harrisburg tacked on four more in the top of the fifth and kept Massac off the board in the bottom of the fifth for the 12-1 win.

Massac looked to snap the slide Tuesday, April 18, against a Herrin team that had just handed Murphysboro its lone conference loss on Monday, but Herrin held off a seventh-inning rally by the Patriots to sneak out with a 4-3 win.

Herrin scored once in the first inning on a double, an error and a groundout. The Tigers pushed across another marker in the third and two huge runs in the top of the sixth and held a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the seven.

Massac benefited from a hit batsman and a base on balls to open the bottom of the seventh. Following a Herrin pitching change, Drew Jacobs delivered a ringing double down the right field line to get Massac on the board. Maurer ripped a two-out single, getting the Patriots within one run, but Reid Martin popped out to third to end the game. Massac had its chances, but didn’t cash in until the seventh frame.

Massac starter Preston Summers pitched in hard luck for Massac, going five solid innings and surrendering only a pair of unearned runs. Martin and Jacobs each had two hits for Massac while Jacobs, Maurer and Melcher all had RBI.

With the loss, the Patriots fell to 4-12 overall, while Herrin improved to 8-9 overall.

The Patriots travel to Benton for conference matchup today, Thursday, April 20.