Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 | Box Score 4 The University of the Southwest Baseball Program was able to host another RRAC series this weekend as rain diverted the Mustangs 4-game series with Wiley College to Hobbs for the weekend. The Mustangs were the visiting team for the entire weekend and even set up camp in the 3rd base dugout, which is normally designated for the visiting team. The change of scenery did wonders for the Mustangs as they swept the 4-game series with Wiley thanks in part to a 1-hitter, extra-inning win and a strong offensive performance from their 3rd baseman. 

GAME 1 (7 inning contest)
USW 1---Wiley 0

Alex Goodman was the story in Game 1. The senior right hander from Gilbert, Arizona threw a complete game masterpiece and earned the victory, despite the offense only scoring 1 run. Goodman allowed only 1 hit and 2 walks, while striking out 5 along the way. Wiley was hitless through 4 1/3 innings when designated hitter Markus Garza squeaked an infield hit in between Micah Tambur and PJ Sanchez. That would be the only hit that Wiley would scratch across as Goodman neutralized their offense for the entire game. 

The Mustang offense had 9 hits and 3 walks on the day, but were only able to push 1 run across when Micah Tambur drove home Isamel Brenes, who was pinch running for Bobby Galindo, to give the Mustangs the lead in the top of the 7th. Bobby Galindo led the offense in Game 1 as he tallied 3 hits. The Mustangs had 3 doubles in the game off the bats of Bobby Galindo, Micah Tambur and Ben Tingen.


GAME 2 (9 inning contest)
USW 7---Wiley 3

The Mustang offense made sure to support their starting pitching in Game 2 as they scored in all but 3 innings of the 9-inning contest. It took a complete team effort to earn the victory in Game 2 and clinch the series. 7 of the 9 Mustang starters had a hit in the game and Tariq Levesque was responsible for the only multi-hit game. But the main firework in Game 2 came off the bat of Junior third basemen Bobby Galindo, as he launched a 2-run home run over the right field fence in the 5th inning to give the Mustangs a 4-0 lead. Galindo and leadoff man Brian Rodriguez both drove home 2 runs in the game and catcher CJ Aviles scored 2 runs on the afternoon. 

JJ Kruzel got the ball in Game 2 and took his efforts into the 8th inning where he ran into a bit of trouble. Kruzel went 7.2 innings allowing 7 hits and 3 earned runs, while striking out 7 Wildcat hitters. Ezra Acosta came in for relief and recorded the final 4 outs of the game without allowing a baserunner on base. Kruzel earned the victory which is his 1st conference victory of the season. Acosta earned the save which was his 1st of the season. 


GAME 3 (9 inning contest)
USW 13---Wiley 8 (10 innings)

Sweeping a conference series is no easy task and the Mustangs made it as difficult as they could on themselves, but in the end pulled out the Game 3 victory. Marvin Galarza earned the no-decision in the game after leaving the game in the 6th inning with a 4-run lead. Galarza went 6 innings allowing 7 hits, 4 runs and 2 walks, while striking out 7. Galarza ran into trouble in the 3rd inning when leadoff hitter Tyler Baumann launched a solo homerun deep over the left field fence to put Wiley on the board. Galarza would allow 2 more runs in the inning and 1 in the 4th.

Igancio Elizalde came in to relieve Galarza in the 7th inning, but was not as sharp as he had been all season. The Muleshoe, TX native allowed 3 hits and 3 runs over 2 innings. The 2 earned runs are the first earned runs allowed for Elizalde since February 23rd against Bethany College. David Flores came in to close the game out in the bottom of the 9th, but struggled in his 1st inning of work. The senior submarine pitcher got into a bases loaded jam and got to 2 outs in the inning, but hit a Wildcat hitter which brought home the tying run. 

The Mustang offense came out with a bang in Game 3 as they jumped out to an early 6-0 lead after the top of the 3rd inning. After Flores relinquished the lead in the bottom of the 9th, the offense needed to step up in a big way, and they did so in an extremely big way. USW scored 5 runs in the top of the 10th inning thanks to a couple of clutch hits and errors from the Wildcat defense. The 'Bash Brothers' Bobby Galindo and Othon Delacruz seemed back to their old ways as each had 3 hits in the game, including another big fly from Galindo deep over the right field fence. Galindo ended the game with a double, homerun, and 4 RBI's to lead the charge in a game which had 15 hits from USW. Flores would end up earning the win after throwing a perfect 10th inning. 


GAME 4 (7 inning contest)
USW 15---Wiley 4

The offense continued their hot swinging Saturday as they scored 15 runs in Game 4 from an unlikely cast of characters. The Mustangs rested a majority of their primary starters in Game 4 which opened up the door for many players to shine in Game 4. The stars of Game 4 were Isamel Brenes and Dominic Baca. Both had 3 hits in the game, and Baca launched his 1st career home run just over the left field fence. USW also got a homerun from 3rd basemen Jake Wyly as he blasted a ball deep over the left field fence that some say has not landed yet. 7 of the 9 starters had hits in the game and the Mustangs had 4 doubles in the game and 12 RBIs as a team. 

Orlan Warren got the start in Game 4 and went 5 innings allowing 4 earned runs all in the 4th inning. Carlos Baldenegro finished up the last 2 innings of the game allowing 1 hit and striking out 1.