Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Cal State LA

The Master's baseball team traveled into Los Angeles for a doubleheader with NCAA Division 2 Cal State LA, winning the first game 9-1 but dropping the second 8-4 Friday afternoon.

Game 1

Will Batz led off the game with a home run and Ty Beck hit a bases loaded double that cleared the bases as The Master's jumped on the Golden Eagles with four runs in the top of the first.

Then in the top of the sixth and the bases loaded again, Davis Beavers got an RBI single to second base, scoring Tyler Grodell. Two batters later, Batz picked up his second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Beck.

The Master's added three more in the eighth when a Beavers groundout scored Ryan Mathiesen. Two batters later Batztripled down the rightfield line, scoring Beck again. Batz then scored on a wild pitch.

Starting pitcher Ian Mortensen was in command of the strike zone, going 6.0 innings giving up just one earned run, three hits and striking out five. Cale Mathison and Mason Madalinski combined for the final three innings, allowing no runs and only one hit while striking out two.

"That first game was nearly flawless," said Head Coach Monte Brooks. "Big first inning and Ian was lights out. No walks, he threw strikes, we played great defense with no errors, and we tacked on a few runs there at the end. We had a chance to do more offensively, but it was a great game."

The Mustangs finished with 10 hits while giving up just four.

Game 2

According to Coach Brooks, "We shot ourselves in the foot."

The Mustangs committed two errors and found themselves behind 8-1 by the end of the fourth inning. A throwing error in the second inning with the bases loaded allowed two unearned runs to score, part of a four-run inning that set the tone for the game.

Mustangs pitchers gave up eight runs (six earned) on eight hits, walked five and hit two batters in 6.0 innings of work (seven-inning game).

"(Our pitchers) got behind hitters and they got on base," Brooks said. "Offensively, we had a chance to capitalize and didn't do it enough."

In the top of the sixth and the Mustangs down by seven, TMU had their best inning offensively highlighted by Tyler Grodell's double to right-center that scored Austin Young and Evan Banks. Grodell later scored on a wild pitch. But it proved too little too late.

"Double headers are challenging," Brooks said. "We need to make sure the intensity is high and consistent. They are long days."

Coach Brooks points out there are three factors to be successful in a doubleheader: the ability to concentrate, relax and endure.

"My mind needs to be in it consistently, my body needs to be relaxed enough to be effective, and my stamina needs to be good," he explained. "The combination of those three elements make a great team. But today, we didn't take care of the baseball. We shot ourselves in the foot by getting behind, walking batters and making a crucial error that cost two runs."

The Master's will have their next five games at home starting with a game this Wednesday against Westcliff. First pitch is at 2 p.m.