The Master's University baseball team scored double-digit runs for the seventh time this season in just 10 games. However, the Mustangs were able to do something they had yet to accomplish in 2021 – pitch a shutout.
Benjamin Johnson (4 IP, 4 Ks),
Ethan Schmidt (2 IP, 3 Ks),
Miles Henderson (2 IP, 1 K) and
Byron Smith (1 IP, 1 K) combined to shutout Providence Christian in a 10-0 TMU victory on Saturday afternoon inside Lou Herwaldt Stadium.
"We pitched pretty well," Master's head coach
Monte Brooks said. "We only walked one and threw strikes on the bump."
The Mustangs only outhit the Sea Beggars, nine to eight, but took advantage of timely at-bats and clutch outs on the mound to keep the visitors at-bay. None were bigger than in the top of the fourth when Johnson stranded the bases loaded, getting a batter to strikeout looking to end the inning and preserve TMU's 2-0 lead.
"It was good to see Ben come through with ducks on the pond," Brooks said. "We had a couple stresses there. Miles had some runners on too, but he got through it. Overcoming that was good for us."
The Mustangs scored twice in the bottom of the third to break the deadlock.
Jeremiah Farris, who played his freshman season at Providence Christian, hit a solo home run against his former team before
Brock Bell plated
Kameron Quitno with an RBI single to left field.
Quitno scored again in the fifth inning, this time off an RBI single from
Ryan Bricker.
Byron Smith's towering two-run drive to left put Master's up 5-0 in the bottom of the sixth, before the Mustangs put up a five-spot in the bottom of the seventh.
Roy Verdejo hit a two-RBI single, before Bell scored on a wild pitch and
Brayden Luft came through with a two-RBI single of his own to score the final runs of the ballgame.
Bell and Bricker each went 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI to pace the Mustang offense.
"I thought Brock and Brick were good today," Brooks said. "Brock got a couple hits and had good at-bats. Brick did what we want him to do. He hit a ground ball up the middle and hit a liner up the middle. For us to be successful, those two guys have to hit."
Master's (7-3) is scheduled to return to Lou Herwaldt Stadium next weekend when the Mustangs are set to host William Jessup (6-0) in a four-game series beginning on Friday at 11:00 a.m.
