The St. Joseph Mustangs advanced to the top six at the NBC World Series for the second time in three years as they rallied to defeat Dodge City (KS) Saturday night in Wichita, 2-1.

St. Joe’s summer college baseball team improved to 3-0 at the NBC and they’re now 37-19 this season.

The Mustangs won their first game this season when trailing after eight innings as they scored two runs in the top of the ninth and held on for the one-run victory.

Pinch hitter Sam Tolleson led off the ninth inning for St. Joe and he reached second base after a throwing error by 3B Ivan Sigala.  Patrick Burkhart sacrificed him to third base and then Saulyer Saxon hit a line drive to left field for his first RBI as a Mustang and it tied the game.

After Kyle Simpson flew out for the second out in the ninth, Mark Robinette reach on an error and then Kris Koerper delivered a two-out, RBI single to right that scored Saxon and gave the Mustangs their first lead of the night.

Jordan Wellander came on in relief of St. Joseph starter Cody Cunningham and allowed one hit but he was Devon Conley to line into a double play to end the game.

Cunningham went eight innings to improve to 9-0 this summer as he allowed just one run on five hits.  He struck out eight batters and walked two.

The Mustangs had just four hits Saturday as Dodge City starter Ben Wright had a perfect game through six innings against St. Joe.

Saxon led the Mustangs with two hits, while Robinette and Koerper had the others.

St. Joseph will be one of six teams remaining in the NBC World Series when they resume play Tuesday night.  They’ll play El Dorado (KS) in the winner’s bracket semifinals at a time to be determined.