HOBBS, N.M. – University of the Southwest baseball opened Red River Athletic Conference play with a bang and swept Jarvis Christian 7-2 and 10-0 Friday afternoon at The Jake. USW upped its record to 12-6 overall, which is the best start for the Mustangs under head coach Steve Appel, who assumed the role in 2014.
 
"I thought we competed well in all aspects today (Friday). We had good pitching, good defense, and timely hitting and our guys showed great energy today," Appel said. "When you put those aspects together, you shouldn't lose. Now the hard part, to show up and do it again tomorrow (Saturday). We have to stay humble and know it's not going to be easy, especially against a good Jarvis Christian."
 
In game one the Mustangs rode the arm of Kevin Whitaker and used timely hitting to put away the Bulldogs.
 
Whitaker tossed the full seven-inning game and scattered six hits. He allowed two runs and allowed only one walk and fanned six batters.
 
Sam Moreno batted 2-for-2 with an RBI and scored three runs for the Mustangs. CJ Aviles batted 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI and Anthony Rios batted 1-for-2 with two runs batted in.
 
The nightcap which was scheduled to be a nine-inning game was cut short due to the seven-inning, 10-run rule.
 
The Mustangs' offense, coupled with the dominant arm of JJ Kruzel, shut down Jarvis.
 
Kruzel tossed seven innings and scattered three hits, allowed no runs and walked three and struck out seven batters. 
 
Rios batted 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI and scored a pair of runs. Ean Smith went 3-for-4 and two RBI and a triple.
 
USW (12-6, 2-0 RRAC) returns to action Saturday and finishes out the weekend series against Jarvis Christian (6-11, 0-2 RRAC) at noon with a single nine inning game at the Jake Williams Field.
 
Note: The win in the nightcap was Appel's 100 career with as a head coach.