Home runs did in The Master's baseball team in the first game, but home runs redeemed the team in game two as the Mustangs split a doubleheader with the Bushnell (OR) Beacons Friday afternoon in Lou Herwaldt Stadium.
Game 1
Three home runs and a bases-loaded triple helped to give Bushnell a 12-1 win over The Master's in a game called after seven innings because of the mercy rule.
The Beacons scored three in the second, one run in the third, fifth and sixth innings, and the big blow of six runs in the top of the seventh to drop the Mustangs to 2-5 on the season.
Three home runs in that sixth inning were the big blasts that propelled Bushnell to the win.
"Game one just got away from us," said TMU Head Coach
Monte Brooks. "We had some opportunities to knock in some runs and put the pressure on them but we just fell short. And then it got away from us."
TMU got their one run in the bottom of the second when
Dylan Taguiam's single to left brought in
Zach Jenkins who had doubled.
Cole Rohlmeier got two of the Mustangs' six hits in the game.
Game 2
Gage Webster pitched the best game of his collegiate career, striking out a career-high 10 batters in The Master's 6-0 win over Bushnell in game two.
Webster is now 3-0 for the Mustangs (3-5) as he came on in relief of opener
Jace Russell, who struck out the side in his 1.0 inning of work.
Mikey Murr pitched the final inning, striking out two in the top of the seventh, to give TMU pitchers 15 strikeouts in the 7-inning game.
"That's just outstanding. Amazing," Coach Brooks said. "All three had complete command. They commanded in the zone and out of the zone, and had tight breaking balls. Just an outstanding pitching performance by all three young men."
Webster went 5.0 innings, giving up the only four hits of the game by the Beacons and walking one to go with his 10 strikeouts.
Jack Drew got the scoring started in the bottom of the fourth when he hit his first home run of the season to also plate
Isaiah Morales.
One inning later it was Morales driving in a run when his sacrifice fly to left scored Rohlmeier to make it 3-0. Two batters later
Mikey Murr singled to center to bring in Beck followed by Jenkins doubling to left to score Drew to make it 5-0.
Master's added a final run when Beck hit his fourth home run of the season, this time a solo shot over the right field fence, to make it 6-0.
Beck finished 3 for 4 in the game with the home run, an RBI and two runs scored. Drew was 2 for 2 with his home run, two RBI and two runs scored.
Both teams will finish off their 4-game series with another doubleheader Saturday. First pitch is scheduled at 11 a.m.
