The Myers Park Mustangs’ baseball team scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to improve to 7-1 on the season and 5-1 in Southwestern Conference play with an 9-4 win at John W. Matthews Field on Tuesday versus the host Independence Patriots.
The Mustangs took an early lead in the top of the first inning scoring two runs on three hits and one walk.
Indy’s Nate Brown got things going in the bottom of the first with a single to right field. He advanced to second on a Matthew Mangum single to left field. Corbin Berkovics came to the plate with one out and runners at first and second. Coach Cooke called for the hit and run and Berkovics drove the ball into the outfield scoring Brown. Ryan Mangum stepped in and singled to drive in his brother Matthew Mangum to tie the score 2-2.
The Mustangs picked up two more runs in the top of the third inning when their lead off hitter singled to left field. After stealing second and third, he scored on a pick off attempt at third base. Myers Park’s next run came after the first base runner was awarded second base on a called balk and advanced to third.  The runner scored on a Patriots’ error making the score 4-2 at the end of three full innings.
In top of the fifth inning the Mustangs picked up one run on a sacrifice fly to the outfield making the score 5-2.
Indy’s Bryson Jusko led off the bottom of the fifth with a single. Bubba Comer stepped to the plate and reached on an error by the Mustangs’ second baseman. With runners on first and second, Nate Brown bunted safely loading the bases with no outs. Indy’s next hitter grounded out. Corbin Berkovics came to the plate and drew an intentional walk scoring Jusko to make the score 5-3 at the end of five.
After holding the Mustangs scoreless in the top of the sixth, Indy added another run in the bottom half of the inning. CJ Brown led off the inning with a walk and then stole second and third. Brown scored on a passed ball to cut the score to 5-4.
In the top of the seventh inning the first two Mustangs hitters popped out to the infield. The Patriots then walked the next three Mustang batters to load the bases. With the bases loaded and two outs, Indy committed two errors that allowed Myers Park to score four unearned runs making the score 9-4.
The Mustangs’ defense held in the bottom half of the inning. After Indy’s lead off hitter grounded out, Corbin Berkovis drew a walk. With one out and a runner on first, the Mustangs ended the game by striking out the next two batters to take the conference win 9-4.
The Patriots fall to 5-3 in the conference and are 7-6 overall.
Myers Park    2 0 2 0 1 0 4 – 9
Independence 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 – 4
