Photo by Jake McNeill: Marshall outfielder Deagan Maurice slides into third base ahead of a Springfield pickoff attempt during the Mudcats’ American Legion baseball game against Springfield on Tuesday at Legion Field in Marshall. Maurice racked up three hits as the Mudcats defeated Springfield 10-2.

MARSHALL — The Marshall Mudcats continued to stay hot on the mound and in the field on Tuesday when they hosted Springfield for an American Legion baseball game at Legion Field. The Mudcats held Springfield scoreless in the game as Marshall went on to claim a dominant 10-1 win, nearly earning its fourth mercy-rule victory in its last five games. 

“I think the way we’ve been practicing and getting better every day, and just how we work together and keep lifting each other up really helps,” Marshall outfielder Deagan Maurice said of the team’s recent string of success.

Liam Kruse pitched the game’s first five innings to earn the win on the mound for Marshall, striking out six batters while limiting Springfield to one hit and one walk for one unearned run. Clayton Jones took over for the sixth, tossing two innings of relief while giving up one unearned run. 

“Liam’s kind of fun to watch from the first base dugout because you get to see how his pitches move,” Marshall manager Mitch Maxwell said. “There’s always something there. You see a lot of batters swing and miss over the top of the ball, so you know he just did what he usually does.”

Jones has been working through some issues with his arm but has put in the effort to get back to the mound, Maxwell said, adding that the team has been waiting for an opportunity to get him some game action and felt like today was a good day for it. Maxwell added that he also felt that Jones was effective in his ability to force Springfield into making weak contact and allowing the Mudcat defense to make plays.

Marshall led throughout the game but took total control with a four-run fourth inning. Josh Kraft singled, stole second and scored on a Levi Maeyaert line-drive single in the third. Leyton Wherry then came in as a courtesy runner for Maeyaert, stole third and scored on a JR Vierstraete line-drive single into the gap in left-center field.

The rally continued as Maurice legged out an RBI triple, running through the loss of his helmet as he rounded the corner at second and just beat out the throw at third. Maurice then scored as well when Springfield tried to get the fielder’s choice at the plate on a Shep Jensen grounder to third, but the catcher dropped the throw as Maurice tapped the plate for a 7-0 Mudcat edge. 

“I hit it and was like, ‘Oh, that’s probably just a single,’ but then it got by the guy and I was like, ‘Oh, I should probably start running a little harder here,'” Maurice said with a laugh. “I saw him get it as I was rounding second, thought that I might as well try it, we’re already up, and I got there safe.”

Maurice finished the day with a game-high three hits with a triple and two RBIs, while Maeyaert, Vierstraete and Tyson Louwagie each added another pair of hits with one RBI. 

Andrew Stelter hit the first pitch in the bottom of the first before scoring the go-ahead run on a pair of passed balls. 

The Mudcats then built on that lead an inning later when Vierstraete singled before scoring on a Maurice single. Maurice advanced to second on the errant throw home attempting to catch Vierstraete, and Louwagie singled in Maurice for a 3-0 lead through two frames.

Facing a seven-run deficit, Springfield worked its way onto the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Noah Neperman bunted and reached on a throwing error by Kruse. Noah Mueller then singled Neperman over to third.

Mueller tried to steal second base but was caught in a rundown on the basepaths. As the Marshall infielders chased Mueller back and forth between first and second, Neperman ran home to score before Mueller was tagged, making the score 7-1. Springfield also scored in the same rundown scenario in the top of the sixth to cut Marshall’s lead down to 10-2.

“Every game, as coaches we keep a list of things that we need to work on. From this game, that’s certainly not the only thing that’s on the list,” Maxwell said. “Our goal is to continue to progress and make improvements, so we’ve got them a list of things to do before we play Luverne on Monday.”

Neperman took the loss on the hill for Springfield, giving up one earned and two unearned runs on four hits and a walk over two innings. 

Adiel Trevino then gave up four earned runs on four hits over one frame on the hill while Madden Lendt pitched another two innings, giving up three earned runs on three hits and a pair of walks. Mueller pitched the final scoreless inning for Springfield. 

Marshall quickly built back the lost cushion. Eli Weedman led off the bottom of the fourth before stealing second and taking third on a passed ball. After Kruse was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners, Kraft hit a sacrifice fly to score Weedman. 

Braxton Koster, in as a courtesy runner for Kruse, scored another run when Springfield tried to pick him off at third, but the throw soared into the outfield and he ran home to make the score 9-1.

Marshall inched closer to the mercy-rule win in the bottom of the fifth. In need of two runs, Jensen walked and Louwagie singled to put the winning run on first with no outs. Wherry then launched a double down the left field line to drive in Jensen, making the score 10-1. 

Marshall improves to 5-5 on the season and next hosts Luverne on Monday at the Irish Yard in Milroy at 6 p.m.

“I think if we just keep working together and getting 1% better every day, we’ll be able to beat those harder teams and get over that hump we’re at right now,” Maurice said.