Cardinal squaks past Van Buren, 5-4

KEOSAUQUA ? Tanner Thorne?s RBI with two outs in the top of the sixth inning plated what would prove to be the winning run to give Cardinal a 5-4 victory vs. Van Buren Friday night.

The result puts the first mark of the season in the conference loss column for Van Buren and enters the Comets right into the thick of the SEISC south championship picture.

Van Buren starter Michael Boyd struck out 11 and gave up six hits - two of which to Cardinal?s Colton Millard who ended up 2-4, one of which a home run, while driving in three of the five runs. Coty Ridgway had the other RBI for the Warriors and went 1-2 with a double.

Joe Aguirre, Spencer Bartholomew and Tel Smith all recorded hits for Van Buren against Cardinal pitchers Ridgway and AJ McElderry. Ridgway started the game and allowed just three hits in 4 2/3 innings of work before McElderry entered to earn the win in the final 2 1/3 innings. McElderry totaled two strikeouts.