The St. Joseph Mustangs overcame a 3-1 deficit after seven innings Sunday and won their NBC World Series opener at Wichita against the Tulsa Cardinals, 8-4.

St. Joe’s summer college team improves to 35-19 this season and they’re 3-0 all-time in NBC opening games.

The Mustangs struggled offensive against Tulsa starter Morgan Croft as they had just four hits through seven innings and trailed by two runs.

But the Cardinals then went to the bullpen and used three pitchers in the eighth and St. Joe put up six runs in the eighth and one in the ninth inning for just their second win this season when trailing after seven innings.

Kyle Simpson had an RBI single to make it a 3-2 game in the eighth and then Kris Koerper hit a sacrafice fly to tie the game.

Tanner Lubach then came to the plate with two outs and the two runners on base with the game tied.  He hit a line drive to center field that Tyler Lein dove for and missed and it rolled all the way to the fence.

Lubach raced around the bases for an inside-the-park home run that broke the tie and put the Mustangs ahead 6-3.

Patrick Burkhart added an RBI single and Koeper drove in Simpson with a single in the ninth inning.

St. Joseph starter Cody Cunningham improved to 8-0 this summer as he went seven innings and allowed just two earned runs.  He struck out nine and walked one batter.

Simpson led St. Joe offensive as he went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and one RBI.  Lubach had two hit and three RBI.

St. Joe moves on to the second round as they’ll play Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in Wichita against either the Tulsa Braves or the Kansas Cannons.  The game will be broadcast on ESPN 1550 AM.