Both the Miller Merchants and McDonald County Post 392 American Legion baseball teams were in spots they probably didn’t want to be in Sunday afternoon.

Each were coming off tough, one-run losses and the two were meeting in the elimination game Sunday.

Miller had just lost 5-4, in the first game Sunday, while Post 392 was trying to rebound from a loss to Carthage Saturday night, 10-9, that saw the game turn on a grand slam by Kyle Wicklund.

McDonald County was the team that was able to fight the adversity and come out with a 12-0 victory in seven innings to keep its season alive for at least one more game.

The loss sends Miller home, the No. 8 seed. Ironically, on Sunday, the No. 9 seed (East Newton) was eliminated first. Then, Miller was. The last game of the day saw No. 7 seeded Monett lose to Webb City Post 322, and they were sent home.

McDonald County slowly chipped away at Miller starter Garrett Hillman and eventually broke the game open by scoring a few runs here and a few runs there.

Post 392 (28-16) got a run in the first inning when Drew Pearcy punched a single through the infield to score Jeb Clark, but the bases were left full.

McDonald County scored three times in the second inning. The big hit of the inning was a two-run double by Bo Bergen. An error on a relay throw to third base went into the McDonald County dugout and allowed Bergen to score.

In the third inning, Sy Morris hit a two-out, two-run triple to score Pearcy (fielder’s choice) and Dakota Acuff (walk).

Miller (14-20) had only one real scoring opportunity in the game, and it came in the top of the fourth inning.

Tyler Abma led off with a ground rule double and moved to third on Seth Wiehe’s single. With one out, Hillman drew a walk to load the bases.

Pearcy got a strikeout and a fly ball to end the scoring threat and preserve his shutout.

Leading 6-0, McDonald County scored six runs over the next four innings to end the game early. In the fourth inning, Clark hit a rocket over the right field fence for a solo home run, making it 7-0.

Post 392 scored four times in the fifth inning to make it 11-0, making for a tough entrance for relief pitcher Josh Eutsler.

The key hit was a two-run double by Clark. Bergen had an RBI single, while Acuff had an RBI double.

The final run came in the sixth inning for McDonald County. Trevor Speagle singled to right field and then moved up two bases on a passed ball and a wild pitch, respectively.
That allowed Pearcy to drive in a run to aide his cause on the mound with a sac fly, making it 12-0.

McDonald County plays at 5 p.m. Tuesday against a team to be determined after Monday’s schedule.