LEWISTOWN - When Mifflin County made the trip Beech Creek a few weeks back, the score reflected how the game was played. That game ended with a 2-1 win in favor of the Crickets in eight innings.
Tuesday's Central Penn League rematch had the makings of a similar game, until the first pitch.
Beech Creek pounded out eight extra-base hits and had three different players with three or more hits en route to a decisive 16-5 victory over Mifflin County.
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Sentinel photo by BRADLEY?KREITZER
Mifflin County’s Jordan Wolfkill, left, stretches out for a ground ball as Beech Creek’s Devin Stacey runs for second base Tuesday evening in Lewistown. See more photos online at cu.lewistownsentinel.com.
The stud of the day for Beech Creek was its righty starter. Justin Houser pitched the first five innings for the win. He scattered seven hits and let a few pitches up that allowed Mifflin County to tally four runs.
"Justin did a good job and he always does good out there for us," Beech Creek coach Gay Hanley said. "He was working on three days rest. But he doesn't get real rattled out there."
Not to be outdone by what Houser did on the mound, he also went 4-for-5 with a triple and a double with four RBIs in the win.
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Mifflin County hosts?Penns Valley today
"He had a big night at the plate," Hanley said. "That's the first he really hit the ball hard. He was really on the game."
Mifflin County manager Larry Wolfe's squad was coming off a 21-4 win over Hollidaysburg Monday. Wolfe said his club has to "learn to play every night."
"We had a couple different players in different positions tonight and it didn't work out," he said. "I'll take the heat for that one."
Mifflin County committed four errors in the game, a few of those at the most critical of junctures in the game. That led to the Crickets scoring four runs in the second and sixth innings, while adding 5-spot in the seventh.
"We make some of those plays and get a hit or two in crucial situations and we're in much better shape," Wolfe said. "Whether we win it or lose it I don't know. We extended too many innings."
Offensively, Beech Creek was too much to handle. After having eight hits in the first meeting between the two teams, the Crickets exploded for 16, five of which came in the second inning.
Beech Creek's Devin Stacey, who finished the game 3-for-3 with a trio of RBIs, led off with a single. A Mifflin County error and a Houser single preceded a two-run single from Drew Nyman to start the scoring. Phil Holter, who finished the game 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, along with Cole Hanley drove in runs for the Crickets in the second.
Mifflin County did its best to battle back in the third.
Joey Knepp was hit by a pitch and Evan Pupo walked. That set up a one-out double off the bat of Haden Snook to cut the Crickets lead in half.
But three more runs in the fourth gave Beech Creek another large cushion. The Crickets scored three runs with two outs by way of a Kyle McGregor single and a Stacey double.
"Mifflin County has a real nice ball club," Hanley said. "But we were just able to hit tonight."
Mifflin County was able to score on run in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. But Beech Creek did a little bit better.
The out-of-towners scratched out nine runs over the final two frames to victimize Mifflin County for the second time this season. The Crickets left only six runners on base in the game, much to the liking of Hanley.
"I'm really happy with that and I told the boys we can't leave those guys on," he said. "The bats are really coming around."
Mifflin County's rough day finished with eight hits. Zach Yetter was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles. Catcher Cy Treaster also had a double in a two-hit performance. Mifflin County left nine runner on base.
"Except for the seventh inning we had runners on every inning," Wolfe said. "We had opportunities and we just didn't take advantage of them."
Mifflin County (6-10) hosts Penns Valley today. Beech Creek (7-2) will take on the Rams Friday.
