The Master's baseball team won both games of Friday's doubleheader over La Sierra 7-3 and 5-1.
Game 1
After spotting La Sierra three runs in the top of the first, the Mustangs (7-1) put two runners on in the bottom of the third. That set the table for
Evan Banks to crush one over the left field fence for a 3-run home run to tie the game at 33.
"It was fun to see Evan get a blast there," said Head Coach
Monte Brooks. "It was a difference maker."
In the bottom of the fifth and the game still tied at 3-3,
Will Batz hit a ball to deep center field that went off the glove of the diving centerfielder. Batz slid safely into third for a triple, but when the cut-off throw was bobbled, Batz took off and slid safely under the tag for what would turn out to be the winning run. It was the fourth triple of the season for Batz.
Four batters later,
Ryan Mathiesen doubled to centerfield, bringing home
Ty Beck to make it 5-3.
In the sixth inning,Â
Cason Brownell hit an RBI double that scored
Tyler Grodell. Batz then sacrificed Brownell to third, and when
Austin Young reached on a fielder's choice, Brownell scored to make it 7-3.
Batz finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Banks was 2-for-2 with those three RBI.
Ian Mortensen got the start on the mound and picked up his third win of the season, despite struggling initially. He gave up three runs, all earned, on four hits, struck out seven but hit five batters and walked another three in 6.0 innings pitched. J.T. Friesen pitched the final three innings, giving up no runs or hits and struck out five.
"I was happy that (Mortensen) came back and gutted it out," Brooks said. "And I thought J.T. threw real well."
Game 2
Aren Gustafsen pitched a complete game and
Austin Young had his second two-home run game of the season in the Mustangs 5-1 win.
Gustafsen allowed only one earned run on two hits and struck out 10 while giving up no walks. He pitched one over the minimum in getting his second win of the season.
"What I loved about his outing is it's a bounce back from a poor start last week," Coach Brooks said. "His ball was moving, his velocity was up, his command was very good. So to get a complete game two-hitter out of him after last week's disappointment, that was a great rebound. He's special. He's going to do well for us."
The Mustangs got all the scoring they would need in the bottom of the first win Young hit his first home run of the game. Two batters later, freshman
Ty Beck hammered the first home run of his collegiate career to right-center field to make it 2-0.
In the bottom of the second,
Kobe Katayama got hit by a pitch followed by a Brownell single. Young then hit his second home run of the game to knock in three and give the Mustangs a 5-0 lead. Young now has five home runs in the first eight games to lead the Mustangs.
"It was neat to see Austin (Young) get those big blows and to see Ty (Beck) get his first (collegiate home run)," Brooks said.
The Golden Eagles would score in the top of the fourth, but Gustafsen shut them down after that.
"Only three guys pitched for us today," said Brooks. "Now I've got everybody ready for (Saturday's doubleheader). That was a blessing."
The Master's will host Providence Christian College in another doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch for game one is at 11 a.m. PT.
