Mt. Zion took advantage of errors in one game and then put together a late rally in the nightcap to post a doubleheader sweep at home Saturday over Teutopolis.
The Braves managed just one hit in the opener, but five T-Town errors led to four unearned runs and a 4-2 loss.
In the second game, the Braves rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull out a 7-6 win and complete the sweep.
In the first game, the Shoes took a 2-0 lead in the second. Evan Addis led off with a base hit, followed by a single by Dylan Pruemer and a walk to Logan Roepke to load the bases. Sam Bushur then came through with a two-out single to drive home a pair.
It stayed 2-0 until the bottom of the fifth. Mt. Zion had a runner reach base on a dropped third strike and another after being hit by a pitch. Two errors helped the Braves score three runs and Jacob Bailey’s RBI double capped the four-run inning.
The Shoes loaded the bases in the fifth, but were unable to score. They only had one baserunner over the final two innings.
Andy Niebrugge pitched the first 4.2 innings and took the loss. He didn’t allow a hit, but did give up three unearned runs. He walked four and struck out seven. Derek Konkel pitched the final 1.1 innings.
In the nightcap, the Braves were on top 3-1 when the Shoes came to bat in the sixth. Cade Buehnerkemper started things off with a single and ended up at third when his base hit was misplayed in the outfield. He scored on a single by Pruemer. A ground ball brought home the second run and Bushur, again, delivered a two-out single, driving home a pair and give T-Town a 5-3 lead.
Mt. Zion scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie it, but the Shoes came right back in the top of the seventh. Buehnerkemper, again, started it with a base hit. He went to third on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Pruemer.
But THS couldn’t maintain the lead. The Braves got a walk and an error to start the seventh-inning rally. Bailey tied the game with a base hit and Ethan Parker ended it with a walk-off bunt single that brought home the winning tally.
Derek Deters, who relieved in the seventh, took the loss, despite giving up an unearned run. Kendall Schmidt was the starter, but lasted only two-thirds of an inning, walking five and giving up three runs. Pruemer relieved in the first and pitched 5.1 innings. He allowed just three hits and three runs, while walking four and striking out seven.
The Shoes dropped to 12-6 overall and 1-2 in Apollo Conference play. They will return to league play Monday at home against Mahomet-Seymour and stay home to face Newton on Tuesday.
