The Master's baseball team fell behind early and could never recover as they lost the first of a three-game series with the No. 7-ranked Hope International Royals 9-1 Friday at Lou Herwaldt Stadium.
The Mustangs (15-9, 3-7 GSAC) have averaged nearly eight runs and more than nine hits a game this season, but could only scratch across one run on two hits against the Royals' pitching.
"It's really quite simple. They pitched very well and they capitalized on the walks and got a couple of big hits," said Head Coach
Monte Brooks. "When we were ahead in the counts we got the outs. They played like a seventh-ranked team and they did a good job."
It started in the top of the first for the Royals when they scored three runs before TMU got to swing at a pitch. HIU added to their score in the fourth, fifth, sixth and ninth innings.
The Mustangs' run came in the bottom of the third when
Will Batz doubled to left field.
Cason Brownell, who had singled to center to start the inning, came all the way around from first base and slid under the tag to score. Those two hits and that run would account for TMU's offense.
Mason Madalinski started on the mound for The Master's, giving up three earned runs on five hits  and striking out two in 3.0 innings.
Ethan Schmidt gave up two earned runs in 2.0 innings,
Carson Knapp allowed two earned runs in 3.0, and
William Gilbert gave up two earned in 1.0.
These two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday at Lou Herwaldt Stadium, with the first pitch of game one scheduled for 11 a.m.
