TMU Baseball Comes From Behind for Win

Austin Young blasted two home runs and Ryan Mathiesen shut down a potential rally in the ninth as The Master's won their third game in a row 8-6 Friday at Lou Herwaldt Stadium.

The game against the San Diego Christian Hawks was originally scheduled to be played in San Diego, but the recent weather made the field unplayable. So despite the game being played at The Master's, the Hawks were the home team.

So in the top of the first, The Master's (18-9, 6-7 GSAC) were able to scratch across a couple of runs off one hit, a pair of walks, a groundout and a sac fly.

But in the bottom of the second, the Hawks responded with five runs to take a 5-2 lead. A pair of home runs highlighted the inning.

TMU got one back in the third after Evan Banks reached on an error, stole second, then scored on Ryan Mathiesen's double to centerfield. The Mustangs added two more in the fifth with Young's first home run, a solo shot to center, followed by Banks scoring off a Miles Henderson RBI single. That tied the game at 5-5.

Will Batz then tripled to center field to lead off the sixth inning. He would score on an Evan Banks sac fly to give the Mustangs their first lead of the game 6-5. Batz led off the game with a single, then had a double in the third. Batz would not get the home run for the cycle, but he would add two walks, one of which proved pivotal in the top of the ninth when he would score off of Young's second home run of the day.

In the bottom of the ninth and the score 8-5 Mustangs, SDCC loaded the bases with two outs. A single to center drove in one run to make it 8-6, which is when Mathiesen slammed the door on the rally, getting the Hawk's Tre Pankratz to strike out looking.

Batz finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Young was 2-for-3 with the two home runs, three RBIs and three runs. Miles Henderson finished 2-for-4 with the RBI as well.

Mason Madalinski started on the hill for TMU, giving way to Carson Knapp in the second inning. Knapp went 4.1 innings, allowed no runs and three hits, striking out two. He was followed by Cale Mathison going 2.2 innings, giving up an earned run on three hits and striking out three before Mathiesen came in for his game-saving strikeout.

Both of these teams will be back at it Saturday for a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. at Lou Herwaldt Stadium.