Alton Back In First After 8-7 Win At O'Fallon

(Photo: Nathan Woodside)

Recap Courtesy of the Alton River Dragons:

O'FALLON, Mo. - The Alton River Dragons are back in first place in the Prairie Land Division after an 8-7 win at the O'Fallon Hoots on Sunday night.

Gage Mestas led off the tenth, doubling to right center and later scored from third on a passed ball.  Then in the bottom of the tenth, after O'Fallon had the lead off batter reach,  third basemen Kurtis Reid made a professional-level back hand pick on a hard smash over the bag.  He wheeled and started a rally killing 5-4-3 double play that all but ended the game.

Blake Guerin threw the final 1.2 innings of the relief to pick up his first win.  Starter Colton Huntt didn't factor in the decision but was outstanding allowing three runs over 6.1 innings of effective baseball.

The River Dragons led 5-2 after the sixth inning, and after O'Fallon had nibbled back to 5-4 in the eighth Alton added to the lead in the ninth.  A couple of runs expanded the lead to 7-4.

But in the bottom of the ninth, O'Fallon tied the game with three runs highlighted by a two-run homer.

Nonetheless, the River Dragons pulled the win out in the 10th, to improve to 2-1 in extra inning games.

The win is the eighth that has come in the final at bat for the River Dragons this season.

The River Dragons are home Monday vs. Burlington and Tuesday against Normal with both games slated for 6:35pm first pitches