Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 The University of the Southwest Baseball Program took to the field on Friday afternoon to kick off their 2019 campaign. The Mustangs hosted the Central Christian Tigers from McPherson, KS in a 4-game series at "The Jake". The Mustangs won the series 3-1 which is the best start in program history since 2013. 
 
GAME 1
 
Opening Day can always be a day filled with nerves, but there were no nerves present for Sophomore JJ Kruzel who got the start on the mound for the Mustangs. The 2^nd Team All-Conference performer from 2018 went out on the mound and showed everyone why he deserved that award last year. Kruzel threw 6 innings, allowing 2 earned runs and striking out 6 batters to earn his first victory of the season. 
 
"He's a gamer. It nice for him to get the first win out of the way and now he can polish some things up and go. He's a competitor and he wants the baseball. That's all you can ask for from your arm." 
 
It was a slow first 2 innings for the Mustang offense, but the 3^rd inning is when the offense exploded for 4 runs on 2 hits. The inning was started by walks from SO Jacob Harris and SR Ben Tingen. Junior CJ Aviles came to the plate and laid down a perfect drag bunt down the 3^rd base line and beat the throw at first base. This loaded the bases for cleanup hitter Tony Delacruz who was playing his first game for the Mustangs. Delacruz crushed a ball to left-center field, that with no wind would have been a no-doubt home run. But instead the centerfield caught the ball at the base of the wall, but allowed for all three baserunners to tag and advance up a base. Senior Micah Tambur was next at the plate and drove a double to the left-center gap that scored Tingen and courtesy runner Ismael Brenes. Junior 3^rd basemen Mikey Davis drove in Tambur the next at-bat on a sac fly to right field. Just like that the Mustangs led 4-1 and never looked back. 
 
CJ Aviles and Brian Rodriguez both had 2 hits in the game and Micah Tambur and Mikey Davis both drove in a pair of runs. Carlos Baldenegro came in to pitch in the 7^th inning to close out the game on a 5-4-3 double-play. 
 
GAME 2
 
Winning the 2^nd game of a doubleheader is no easy feat and the Mustangs were looking to start off the 2019 on a high note. Senior Marvin Galarza got the start for the Stangs, but only lasted 3 innings after allowed 2 earned runs and 7 hits. Freshman Ezra Acosta from Cleveland HS in Rio Rancho, NM came in for relief and baffled the Tigers hitters over 3 innings holding them to only 2 hits. 
 
The Mustangs entered the bottom of the 6^th inning down a run, but never showed fear as they scored 3 runs in the inning to put them ahead 5-3. The Mustangs once again played small ball in the inning and it payed off for them in a huge way. Brian Rodriguez led off the inning with a walk and Jacob Harris sacrificed him over on a bunt. Senior Ben Tingen came up next and laid down a perfect push bunt towards the 2^nd basemen who was unable to get to the ball in time to toss to first base. Catcher CJ Aviles came to the plate and executed the short game once again putting down a safety squeeze that allowed Rodriguez to score and allowed Aviles to scurry to 1^st base safely. Tony Delacruz came up to the plate next and delivered a single to center field scoring Tingen from 2^nd and putting the Mustangs up 4-3. Micah Tambur then followed with a single of his own and Brenes, who pinch ran for Aviles, scored from 2^nd base. The Mustangs were now up 5-3 headed to the 7^th inning where Closer David Flores came in and closed out the game. 
 
"It's always nice to get two wins on the first day. It was a gorgeous day to play baseball. We are still learning who we are and we need to tighten up some things." Coach Appel had to say after winning two games on Opening Day. 
 
The Mustangs laid down 5 bunts of Opening Day which allowed their offense to do damage the way they intended. Coach Appel knows that this is going to be something this team has to do if they want to be successful. "Small ball opens up big ball. It opens up holes and alleys, and we're a team where our 1-2 an 6-8 hitters are going to have to scratch runs and we had some pretty good swings today." Appel said of the offense. 
 
GAME 3
 
The Mustangs came out on Saturday afternoon looking to secure a series win in Game 3. The Mustangs sent Senior Kevin Whitaker to the mound and Whitaker shined in his season debut. The right-hander from El Paso, TX went 6.1 innings and struck out 8 Tiger batters. Whitaker allowed on 5 hits and kept Central Christian from crossing the plate. Closer David Flores came in and finished the last 2 outs of the game. 
 
Although the bats were not explosive on Saturday, the Mustangs capitalized on opportunities when they arose as they scored in 4 of their 6 innings at the plate. 
 
GAME 4
 
Winning the 4^th game of a series is always one of the toughest things to do in baseball and the Mustangs ran out of juice in Game 4 on Saturday. The Stangs saw the Tigers best pitcher in Game 4 as Jared Jones threw a complete game allowing only 3 hits and 3 runs to go along with 6 strikeouts. 
 
The Mustang offense did have one bright spot as Freshman infielder Chris Garcia went 2-3 and scored 2 runs. The Freshman from Tuscola, TX was making his very first start for the Mustangs in place of an injured Mikey Davis who left Game 3 with a lower-body injury. 
 
Sophomore Orlan Warren got the start on the mound for the Mustangs and went 5 innings allowing 6 hits, 2 runs and struck out 3. 
 
 
The Mustangs are back in action this week as Mid-America Christian comes down to Hobbs for the 2^ndstraight year. The series was originally planned to take place at MACU, but due to freezing temperatures and inclement weather, the series has been moved to Hobbs, America. The 4-game series starts on Friday afternoon with two 7-inning games starting at noon and 2 more games on Saturday with those games starting at noon as well.