MANHATTAN – The TMP-Marian pitchers combined to walk eight and the offense was held in check for most of the day as they drop their state quarterfinal matchup to Girard 8-2 Thursday atToiton Family Stadium in Manhattan.
The Monarchs managed to get a couple of runners on in their half of the first inning thanks to a Mark Rack single and a Caden Morgan walk but Girard starter Trevor Amershek struck out the side in the first and again in the second.
After allowing those two runners to reach in the first inning Amershek retired 17 of the next 19 Monarchs hitters until he was lifted in the seventh inning with two men on base. Amershek allowed two runs on four TMP hits in 6 2/3 innings to earn the win.
On the other side TMP starter Cade Morgan struggled with his command. He walked a career-high seven in three innings and allowed six runs over three innings in the loss.
The big inning came for the Trojans in the bottom of the second when Morgan walk four of the first five hitters he faced to start the inning. All four came in to score putting Girard up 4-0 through two.
Morgan struggled with command again in the fourth inning, walking three straight to start the inning. Two more runs scored giving Girard a 6-0 lead.
The Trojans led 8-0 after scoring two in the sixth inning.
The Monarchs bats woke up in the top of the seventh scoring two runs on two hits and taking advantage of three walks.
Garrett Feauto singled with one out, Joey Mindrup added a two-out single and Griffin Schumacher walked to load the bases.
Nick Herrman and Mark Rack both walked with the bases loaded cutting it to 8-2 but the rally was cut short in the next at bat with an 8-2 TMP loss.
The Monarchs were held to just the two runs on four hits and struck out 11 times as a team.
TMP finishes the 2022 season 14-6.