BASEBALL: Mueller pitches, slams P-DQ past Sparta
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Kyle Mueller allowed just five hits in a complete game on the mound and accounted for all four runs of Pinckneyville-Du Quoin's offense with a third-inning grand slam as Posts 2504 & 647 knocked off Sparta 4-1 on Thursday at the Harold Harmsen Wooden Bat Classic in Steeleville.
Mueller allowed a leadoff double to Austin Peck in the top of the third, and after a sacrifice by Kyle Sinn sent Peck to third base, Peck came home on a wild pitch for the game's first run.
Mueller would get it back, with insurance, in the bottom half of the inning. Zach Phillips and Bryant Shute both walked to lead off Pinckneyville-Du Quoin's half of the third, then Adam Barczewski drew a walk to load the bases for Mueller's big blast and a 4-1 advantage.
The left-hander Mueller then pitched around base runners in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings, finishing with five hits and two walks allowed, hitting one batter and striking out four.
Mueller (1-2, BB, GS), Shute (1-3, R), Phillips (2-2, R) and Brandon George (1-2, BB) each had hits off of Sparta Post 396 on Thursday.
Weather postponed action on both Tuesday and Wednesday, meaning the tournament crown will be decided on Friday evening with Pinckneyville-Du Quoin meeting Marion at 5:30 p.m. Steeleville and Sparta meet at 7:00 p.m.
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