The Master's University blasted five home runs, two by sophomore
Austin Young, and defeated the Bethesda Flames 15-1 on opening day of the 2023 season at Lou Herwaldt Stadium Friday afternoon.
Five Mustang pitchers combined to allow only one unearned run on just three Bethesda hits, striking out 10 and walking five.
"Phenomenal outing, really in every facet," said Head Coach
Monte Brooks. "Most games are won in the middle innings and most games are won in a big inning and we got to the middle innings and exploded.
The Mustangs (1-0) broke open a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fourth inning when
Miles Henderson started the home run derby with a two-run blast to left-center field. Four batters later
Cason Brownell tripled off the centerfield fence to drive in two more runs to give The Master's a four-run lead.
"(Henderson) is just a calm disposition player," Brooks said. "He understands the game and has become more and more polished and more well-rounded. Last year he started to understand how important it is to take some pitches and how important it is to have a smaller zone. This fall, his swing developed even more fluid. I'm excited for him and the opportunity he has to be in a big position in the four hole."
Then in the sixth,
Austin Young led off the inning with a solo blast. A single, walk and a Flames error then loaded the bases for
Evan Banks, who scorched a line drive that skipped off the top of the left field fence for a grand slam. Three batters later it was Young again hammering his second home run of the inning, which was followed by Ryan Mathieson ripping his first round tripper as a Mustang. In total, the Mustangs scored nine in the inning to break open the game.
Aren Gustafson started on the bump for The Master's and threw five innings to get the win. He allowed one unearned run and three hits while striking out six and walking two. His 69 pitches were exactly what the coaching staff wanted to see from him.
"The goal was (to throw) around 70 pitches and in five (innings), and he achieved that," Brooks said. "He got behind a little bit early, missing arm side. But he threw his breaking ball very well and he's got multiple pitches. So he can find out which one is working and go with it."
Ryan Mathiesen finished the game going 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI, with freshman
Ty Beck also going 3-for-4 at the plate. Seventeen batters got to step into the batter's box, with 10 getting at least one base hit.
In addition to Gustafson pitching,
Ethan Schmidt, Jojo Penberthy,
Cade Walker and
Ryan Mathiesen each pitched a scoreless inning.
"One of my favorite things in all of coaching is everybody getting to play and everybody playing well, and we played well from the first pitch to the last pitch," Brooks said
These two teams will be back at it on Saturday for a doubleheader that begins at 11 a.m. in Lou Herwaldt Stadium.
