Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
MURPHYSBORO — You’ll have to excuse Murphysboro senior Austin Hunter for blanking out for part of his trip around the bases Tuesday afternoon.
Hunter led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a home run giving the Red Devils a 3-2 walkoff win over Massac County, a win that clinched at least a share of the SIRR Ohio championship.
Earlier Tuesday, Hunter pitched six innings, allowing an unearned run on four hits while striking out five. The Patriots tallied another unearned run off reliever Nathan Evans in the top of the seventh, but the Red Devils tied the game and forced extra innings on an RBI single by Oliver Kartje that scored Mason Bastien, ultimately setting up Hunter’s heroics.
Massac County’s Zach Maurer was the tough luck losing pitcher, giving up three runs in seven-plus innings of work.
Murphysboro and Carterville each have five conference wins. The Lions finished conference play 5-3. The Red Devils are 5-2 and can win the Ohio outright with a win at home Friday afternoon against Herrin.
