The final score didn't necessarily paint a full picture, so coach
Monte Brooks helped fill in the lines.
"We had our chances in the first game, we had our chances in the second game," Brooks said after his Mustangs were swept, 9-1 and 5-3, by NAIA No. 7 William Jessup on the road Saturday.
The teams will meet again Sunday at 1 p.m. because the series' start was moved back a day due to weather.Â
The Mustangs (17-12, 10-9 in Golden State Athletic Conference) traveled north to the Sacramento area with hopes of cutting into Jessup's commanding lead in the GSAC standings. But the Warriors (28-6, 18-2) used it as an opportunity to demonstrate why they've taken the conference by storm, building a 4.5 game lead on second-place Vanguard University.
Master's trails the leaders by 7.5 games.Â
In Saturday's opener, two-time conference Pitcher of the Week Ashkhon Kuhaulua mixed speeds to strike out 11 Mustangs on his way to a complete-game, four-hitter.
Five different Warriors homered in the game. But outside a four-run second,
Scott Savage was solid for TMU. The righty went five innings and gave the Mustangs a chance to rally. But Master's didn't score till the top of the ninth when
Aaron Shackelford doubled home a run.
Master's left two men on base in the seventh and three in the eighth.Â
In the second game, Master's loaded the bases with one out in the first inning but failed to score. It then fell behind 3-0 in the second inning after Sam Curtis' two-run home run.
Preston White and
Ryan Bricker answered with RBI singles in the third and fourth innings, respectively. But Jessup came back with a run in the fourth and another in the fifth.
Master's left 10 men on base. Jessup left 13.
Down three heading into the final inning, Mustang
Josh Robison drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, but the tying run never reached base.
Still, Brooks remained upbeat.
"We're excited to have another opportunity (Sunday)," he said.Â
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