Messer strikes out 18 in Hillbillies 6-0 win over St. Joe's

Bill Lusk | WVOW Sports

MAN   Braxton Messer struck out 18 and tossed a complete game two-hitter to lead the Man Hillbillies to a 6-0 win Tuesday evening over the Huntington St. Joe's Irish at William "Tootie" Carter Field.

Messer walked two batters and didn't allow a hit until Brayden McDowell singled to center field with two outs in the top of the sixth to end the senior's no-hit bid.

Scoreless through three innings, the Hillbillies were able to score six runs on six walks, two hits and a hit batter in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Noah Maynor, Brayden Compton and Hayden Farley drew bases loaded walks to put Man on top 3-0. Gavyn Cline was hit by the pitch to extend the lead to 4-0 and Messer drove in two runs with a single to cap a six-run fourth inning.

David Beane allowed three runs on two hits with five strikeouts and four walks in three innings for St. Joe's.

Wyatt Pence was 1 for 3 with a double and McDowell 1 for 3 for the Irish, who lost for the first time this season.

Messer was 2 for 4 with two RBI, Cline went 1 for 2 with one RBI and Compton, Fraley and Maynor each had one RBI for the Hillbillies, who improved to 6-2.