Matt Chapman earned his first win of the season and Eli MacInturf picked up his first save as TMU defeated Bethesda 4-1 in seven innings on Thursday in Santa Clarita, Calif.
Despite cold wind and rain being present for much of the day, Bethesda opened up in the first inning with a solo homer off Chapman to take the 1-0 lead. After the opening frame though, Chapman buckled down, going 4.1 innings and giving up only the one run. He struck out four batters to give TMU a strong start.
"Chapman kept us in the game with some big pitches," TMU Head Coach
Monte Brooks said. "Proud of him for how he labored through in those spots."
In the second inning, TMU tied the ballgame with three singles in a row, capped by a
Cole Rohlmeier RBI hit. The next time up to bat for the Mustangs, senior
Isaiah Morales laced a double to the gap and then proceeded to steal third. A poor pickoff throw from Bethesda's pitcher led to Morales coming home and giving TMU the lead.
Emilio Morales pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in relief of Chapman, only giving up one hit. He was aided by the Mustang infield turning two double plays.
In the fifth inning,
Ty Beck blasted his team-leading eighth homer out of the leadoff spot. After putting runners at the corners,
Ryder Frith-Smith added a sacrifice fly to extend the Mustang lead to 4-1.
"Ty, Isaiah and Ryder had some huge moments for us," Coach Brooks said. "And Eli and Emilio were fantastic as well."
TMU turned to MacInturf on the bump to close out the final inning and he did just that. Despite a leadoff double, MacIntuf stranded the runner by retiring three in a row, including a strikeout.
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Scotty Pieper went 2 for 3 and
Isaiah Morales had two hits in as many trips and he added one walk as well. The TMU staff only gave up five hits in Thursday's seven inning game.
TMU will play next on Saturday against Simpson in a double header.Â
