One day after rallying from a two-run deficit in the ninth inning to defeat Nevada on a walk-off home run, the St. Joseph Mustangs let a ninth inning lead slip away Saturday as they fell at home to Joplin 7-5.

St. Joe’s summer college baseball team led 5-4 entering the ninth inning and they turned to closer Steve D’Amico.  D’Amico, who had allowed just one earned run and six hits all season, blew his first save of the season as he allowed three runs on three hits.

D’Amico gave a single and then walked to batters to load the bases with one out.  He gave up a sacrafice fly to tie the game and then allowed a double with two outs to give Joplin the 7-5 lead.

The Mustangs were retired in order in the bottom of the ninth inning as they drop to 32-14 this season and 25-13 in the MINK League.  St. Joseph’s lead in the North Division is back to one game as Sedalia defeated Clarinda Saturday 7-2.  The Mustangs and Bombers will meet Sunday in Sedalia.

Trent Kinney started for St. Joe as he allowed four runs and five hits in four innings of work.

The Mustangs rallied from a 4-1 deficit Saturday as they scored two in the fourth inning and two more in the seventh before suffering their first loss when leading after eighth innings in two years.

Trent Hill and Kyle Richards led St. Joseph with two hits each, while Hill and Francisco Alvarez each drovein two runs.

The Mustangs game at Sedalia Sunday will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ and here on StJosephPost.com.