EDWARDSVILLE – Jack Kirgan had two of the four Edwardsville hits, while Andrew McKey struck out two in four innings of work on the mound as the Tigers scored three runs in the first inning, and used three pitchers in a combined shutout to defeat East Peoria 5-0 in a baseball game played Friday afternoon at Tom Pile Field.
The Tigers won their fourth game in a row and are now 14-8 overall on the season, shutting down the Raiders’ lineup, allowing only three hits on the day.
Edwardsville started well, with Andrew McCutchen drawing a walk and advancing to second on a single by Hunter Baugh. A base hit by Kirgan loaded the bases, with Tyson Wampler drawing a walk to force home McCutchen, making the score 1-0 for the Tigers. Joel Fields then lifted a sacrifice fly to right to score Baugh and advance Kirgan to third, and one out later, courtesy runner Aiden May stole second, with Kirgan scoring when the throw went into center field, May holding at second to make the score 3-0. A strikeout ended the inning.
The Tigers scored their final two runs in the fifth, starting when Kirgan reached on an error by the second baseman, Parker Gill walked, with both runners stealing second and third respectively on a double steal, and both scored on a single by Fields to make the score 5-0.
Edwardsville pitching handcuffed East Peoria very effectively, with McKey retiring the first six men in order, and ran into a spot of trouble in the third, when the lead-off batter singled, but was caught stealing second. McKey retired the last five men in a row, and the Raiders threatened in the seventh, starting with a lead-off single and a hit batsman, with both advancing on a balk. A strikeout and double play ended the game, with the Tigers preserving the shutout 5-0.
Kirgan had two hits to lead the way for Edwardsville, with Fields getting a hit and three RBIs, Baugh had the only other hit, and Wampler drove home a run. McKey went for four innings on the mound and was credited with the win, allowing only two hits, while walking none and striking out two. Wampler pitched two innings, not giving up a run or hit, walking none, and striking out none, and Jax Andreas pitched in the seventh, allowing a hit, while walking none and fanning one.
Both the Raiders and Tigers are now 14-8, with Edwardsville hosting a doubleheader on Tuesday against East St. Louis, with the first game starting at 4:30 p.m., then hosting the annual Tiger Classic round robin tournament next weekend, with Edwardsville playing Teutopolis Friday at 7 p.m., then meeting Chatham Glenwood Saturday at 10 a.m., then going against Highland at 12:30 p.m.
