The McCracken County Mustangs kicked off their Mustang Classic and picked up a 5-2 win over the Graves County Eagles on Friday, using a strong performance from the bottom of the lineup to rally for their seventh victory in a row.
Graves County got off to a quick start in the top of the first inning. Beckett O’Guinn drove in a run on a groundout, and Corey Toon followed with a double that brought in another, giving the Eagles an early 2-0 lead.
McCracken County responded in the bottom of the third inning, shifting the momentum of the game. Kendrick Dunning singled to bring in a run, and Kole Robertson delivered the biggest hit of the night with a double that drove in three runs, putting the Mustangs in front 4-2.
From there, McCracken County remained in control as the game moved through the later innings, adding another run and holding Graves County to just those two runs in the first.
Grant Vinyard earned the win on the mound for the Mustangs, turning in an efficient complete game performance. He allowed just three hits and two runs, none earned, over seven innings while walking one.
McCracken County finished with nine hits in the game. Briar Hall led the way from the lower part of the lineup, batting a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate. Brady Thompson and Luke Whiteside also contributed hits as the bottom of the order played a key role in the offensive production. Robertson led the team in RBIs, finishing with three on the night.
For Graves County, Emmitt Darnall and Cole Woodward each recorded a hit as well, while Toon and O’Guinn both drove in a run. Defensively, Graves County worked through several chances in the field, with Cole Hayden leading the way with six.
McCracken County will return to action on Saturday when they continue the Mustang Classic and host Henry Clay, who defeated the Eagles 8-5 later in the evening.
Game stats
MCCRACKEN COUNTY 5, GRAVES COUNTY 2
GCHS 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 2 3 0
MCHS 0 0 4 1 0 0 X — 5 9 1
WP: G. Vinyard; LP: M. Ivey
2B: MCHS — B. Hall, K. Robertson; GCHS — C. Toon, C. Woodward
TB: MCHS — B. Hall 4, K. Robertson 2, K. Dunning 1, L. Gagnon 1, C. Kern 1, B. Thompson 1, L. Whiteside 1; GCHS — C. Toon 2, C. Woodward 2, E. Darnall 1
HBP: MCHS — K. Dunning 2, G. Reeves; GCHS — M. Ivey
SB: MCHS — C. Kern
CS: MCHS — W. Fox, B. Hall; GCHS — E. Darnall
E: MCHS — G. Vinyard
RECORDS: McCracken County (16-4); Graves County (10-11)