The Master's University baseball team completed the series sweep against Bethesda University in dominating fashion, recording 16-2 and 14-4 wins at Lou Herwaldt Stadium in Santa Clarita, Calif. Saturday afternoon.
From pitching to hitting, the Mustangs had complete control over both games, something TMU Head Coach Monte Brooks was proud of.
"We played a much better brand of baseball." Coach Brooks said about the team's performance. "It was nice to see from all facets, the pitching, the strike percentage, the defense and then the offense."
Game 1
The Mustangs recorded four home runs en route to their dominating 16-2 win against the Lion Angels.
TMUÂ opened the scoring in the third inning with a soaring home run to right field by junior right fielder Ty Beck, who recorded his NAIA leading 12th home run of the season.
Junior first baseman Owen Hayes added to the lead in the fourth inning with a solo home run. Graduate student second baseman Cason Brownell and junior pinch runner Tommy Stanton gave the Mustangs two more runs in the sixth while senior third baseman Austin Young returned home for a run in the seventh.
Junior pitcher Matt Chapman started for the Mustangs and ended his 5.1 inning assignment with no runs, four hits and one strikeout to earn the win.
"Matt's fastball had good command." Coach Brooks said about his starter. "He threw a little bit better, this is probably his best outing with his breaking ball."
Things were silent until the top of the eighth, as it took the Mustangs three pitchers to get out of the inning while giving the Lion Angels two runs. But the Mustangs batters made up for the mistake.
The Mustangs ended the eighth inning with nine runs and two home runs from Hayes's second of the game and sophomore designated hitter Jacob Kowes.
Beck would come in to end the game as the pitcher.
Game 2
Junior pitcher Carson Knapp was the starting pitcher for the Mustangs in game two, earning the win while limiting the Lion Angels to three runs on six hits and recording seven strikeouts in 6.0 innings.
"Carson looked fantastic." Coach Brooks said. "I mean, just quick pace, low pitch count, strike percentage. Really good, very impressive."
But unlike game one, the Mustangs held a convincing lead through the entire 7-inning game.
The Mustangs scored most of their runs with well executed offensive plays, only relying on a home run by Cason Brownell to get two runs. And by the time the Lion Angels ended the shutout bid, it was already the fifth.
"There was base running, they were driving in runs, so it was a big day offensively." Coach Brooks said about the offense.
The Mustangs will travel to Gilbert, Ariz. for their GSAC Conference opener against Park University Gilbert (AZ), playing four games in two days, beginning on March 7 at 11 a.m.
"I think we didn't do a double-double once," Coach Brooks said. "This is our first one. So, that's a lot of ball. Gotta be ready, a lot of endurance."
