COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Helias Crusaders went 2-0 in action Saturday, defeating McCluer North and Linn in baseball at Hickman.
Helias opened with an 11-8 win against McCluer North. The Crusaders jumped out to a 6-0 lead after three innings before holding on for the win.
Alex Faddoul, Ryan Graessle and Patrick Schnieders all had two hits in a 12-hit Helias attack.
One of Faddoul's hits was a grand slam home run in the sixth inning. He finished with five RBI. Graessle drove in two runs in the first inning with a double.
Tyler Cassmeyer got the start and the win for Helias, working four innings. He allowed three earned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four. Cole Johnson pitched the next 21/3 innings, allowing five runs on four hits and two walks. He struck out two. Faddoul got the final two outs.
In the nightcap, Schneieders' walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted Helias to a 4-3 victory against Linn.
In the ninth, Faddoul hit a one-out single before stealing second and moving to third on a fly by Graessle. Schnieders then singled to right to plate Faddoul.
Helias took the lead with two runs in the first before Linn tied it with two in its half of the fourth. The Wildcats then scored a run in the fifth before the Crusaders sent the game to extra innings with a run in the bottom of the seventh.
Schnieders and Nolan Sachse had three hits each for Helias, while Faddoul had two. They were the only Helias players to have hits in the game.
Schnieders finished with three RBI.
Faddoul was the winner in relief, working the final two innings. He walked two and struck out one. Kale Gerstner pitched the first seven frames, allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out three.
Helias (16-8) is back in action Tuesday at Waynesville before wrapping up the regular season Thursday at home against Sedalia Smith-Cotton.