(March 27, 2024 – Euless, TX) The Spirits (40+) offense was on cruise control with the team scoring quickly and often as they rolled the Brewers to a 13 to 3 mercy-rule victory on Wednesday night. Every Spirits hitter reached safely with the exception of two, accounting for 13 runs on 13 hits.
Eric McPherson, Will Nash, and Ryan Marsland each finished with a pair of hits on the night, with McPherson adding 2 runs scored, an RBI, a sacrifice fly, and a stolen bag. Nash added a run scored, and Marsland doubled, scored, and knocked in 3 runs to lead the box score.
Stacy Scott was solid on the mound defensively, finally seeing a game where the team’s defense didn’t record a single error in the field. Scott tossed 4 innings, scattering 7 hits and giving up 3 earned while walking and striking out 2. Travis Hitzeman made his debut to close out the game, pitching one inning while also walking and striking out a pair.
The Brewers picked up an early run in the bottom of the first when Dale Baird tripled with one out. Marcus Vidal, III flew out but not deep enough to score Baird but John Thompson singled to score Baird to give the crew a 1 to 0 lead before Scott struck out Mark Beville to close the frame.
The Spirits rallied to tie the game in the bottom frame after McPherson singled and stole second base. McPherson moved to third on a balk by Brewers starter, Carl Wilson and later scored when Shawn Lee grounded out. The ghosts followed with 5 additional runs in the bottom of the second after Eric Goetz drew a leadoff walk and then quickly stole second. Shawn Hunt was hit by a pitch and both runners advanced on a double steal before Marsland singled both runners home. Marsland was able to take second on the throw home and a walk to Todd Murrah put two on with nobody out. Anthony Osburn reached on an error to load the bases and an error by Ken Earp in the Brewers outfield allowed David Tipton to reach safely and for Marsland to score. Scott followed with an RBI single to score Murrah but the Brewers were able to put out Osburn on the base paths. McPherson followed up with a sacrifice fly RBI to score Tipton before Lee flew out to end the inning with the Spirits ahead, 6 to 1.
The Brewers added a second run in the third but the Spirits added 3 more runs in the bottom half of the inning ot make it 9 to 2 staring with a base-on-balls to Hitzeman. Hitzeman stole second and advanced to third after Nash singled, and an RBI single by Mike Sopocy scored Hitzeman. The Brewers turned to Mike Lantzy to pitch and he was able to get Goetz to fly out before Hunt singled to load the bags. Marsland flew out but a single by Murrah scored both Nash and Sopocy before Osburn grounded out to end the inning.
The Brewers added their third and final run in the fourth on an RBI single by Wilson tha scored John Parker, who had singled earlier but the Spirits kept their foot on the offensive gas by tacking on another 3 runs in the bottom of the inning to make it 12 to 3. Tipton singled to start the inning and moved to second on a balk by Lantzy. Scott struck out and Tipton moved to third after McPherson singled. Tipton scored two pitches later on a passed ball that allowed McPherson second before Lee struck out looking for out number two. An RBI single by Hitzeman scored McPherson and after Nash added another single, Hitzeman crossed the plate following a wild pitch before Sopocy flew out.
The ghosts added a final run in the bottom of the fifth to walk it off after the Brewers turned to Parker to pitch. Goetz welcomed Parker with a single and then moved to second on an error by the Brewers first baseman. Hunt was hit by a pitch and Marsland walked it off with an RBI double to the left field gap that allowed Goetz to score for the mercy-ruled win.
“Another great effort by our offense,” Lee mentioned aftwards. “Great defense tonight as well; no errors. All positives here. Wish my bat had shown up but I was lucky enough to earn an RBI for grounding out. Glad Eric (McPherson) remained hot and was on third base. Scott was solid on the hill tonight and (Shawn) Hunt called another great game behind the plate, something that really goes unseen most games. We are hard to beat when our offense shows up.”
The Spirits will return to action next Wednesday night when they face off against their rival, the Redbirds. First pitch is slated for 6:30PM on Arlington Field at Texas Star. Fans can click here for schedule details.
Central Roofing and Restoration Players of the Game
Eric McPherson (2-2, 2 R, RBI, SF, SB)
Will Nash (2-2, R, BB)
Ryan Marsland (2-3, 2B, R, 3 RBI)