Mavs propelled by 8-run inning in win Wednesday

By James Tubb on June 19, 2024.

The Medicne Hat Mavericks bats came to play Wednesday at Moose Jaw.

The Mavs put up eight runs in the fourth inning en route to a 15-7 win over the Miller Express. It’s a bounce back for the Mavs who lost 11-3 Tuesday at Weyburn to the Beavers.

The Millers opened the scoring Wednesday with a sacrifice fly in the first inning. Medicine Hat tied the game up at 1-1 in the top of the second with an RBI single from Jaden Babiuk.

They blew the game open with eight runs on seven hits in the fourth.

Marshall Burke got the inning started with a single that stayed in front of the catcher who threw the ball over the first baseman, allowing Babiuk to scored on the error. Brody Gardner scored a run with an RBI single before Jordan Phillips blasted a three-run home run for a 6-1 lead.

Michael Quick added an RBI single, Johnny Vulcano had a fielders choice hit to knock in a run and Babiuk had a sacrifice infield hit, rounding out the inning with eight runs and a 9-1 lead.

Chris Shaffer started the contest on the mound for the Mavs and picked up the win with five one-run innings pitched. He recorded four strikeouts, allowing just five hits, the lone run and one walk.

Lane McEachern took over and worked two frames, allowing one run on two hits and two walks. Moose Jaw scored in the bottom of the seventh to make it a 9-2 game. McEachern worked out of a bases loaded jam with Millers’ slugger Nate Mensik at the plate, inducing a fly out to maintain the score.

The Mavs answered back in big fashion, scoring five runs in the top of the eighth.

Nick Thibodeau opened the scoring in the frame with an RBI single. Babiuk recorded his third RBI of the game with a single and Micah Dvorak turned a single into a double with an RBI. Burke capped off the frame with a two-run single, pushing the Mavs ahead 14-2.

Ryan Dexter took over to start the bottom of the eighth inning, with Moose Jaw scoring in the frame for a 14-3 score.

Medicine Hat plated their last run of the contest on an RBI single from Brady Bean for a 12-run advantage in 15-3.

The Millers made it interesting late, electrifying the remaining of the 214 in attendance on the cold night in Moose Jaw, scoring four runs on three hits, including a two-run home run, before the Mavs closed the door for the 15-7 win.

Dexter finished his night with five runs allowed on four hits and a walk with three stakeouts in two innings.

The Mavs and Millers each had three errors and Medicine Hat stranded nine runners to Moose Jaw’s 11.

The Mavericks (12-7) are back at Moose Jaw for a rematch with the Miller Express on Thursday.