HOBBS, NM---The University of the Southwest Baseball team took on Central Christian on Saturday afternoon for Game 3 & 4 of their 4-game series. The Tigers defeated the Mustangs in Game 3, 12-8, but the Mustangs won Game 4 8-2 to win the series 3-1.
"I thought our guys played well, we just didn't get the job done on the mound today. Starting pitching sets the tone for the day and that just simply didn't happen. We got behind in too many counts and it doesn't matter who you play, they will make you suffer. I'm glad our guys were able to rebound in Game 4 to take the series. Like I said yesterday, we have some new pieces to the puzzle and we need to figure them out. We have some great young talent, but they need time to get the feel of the college game. We will get back to the drawing board as we have a tough weekend ahead of us in Arizona and we play some of the top talent in the country. Our guys will be eager to get back on the field." said Head Coach
Steve Appel following the Mustangs first weekend series of 2020.
GAME 3
Freshman
Isaac Baeza got the start on the mound for the Mustangs and had his 'Welcome to College' moment three batters into the game as Central Christian third basemen Tyler Brown took Baeza deep to give the Tigers an early 3-0 lead. Baeza came back and struck out three Tiger batters to get out of the inning. But the freshman ran into trouble in the 3rd inning as the Tigers scored 9 runs all with 2 outs to take a 12-1 lead.
Michael Downs also made his collegiate debut in the 3rd inning and was unable to record an out as he allowed 3 hits and 3 runs.
Despite the 12-1 deficit, the Mustang offense attempted to hit their way back into things, but 9 runners left on base in the final 5 innings took its toll. Although there was struggles early on the mound, Freshman
AJ Cordova stepped up and gave the Mustangs a huge boost out of the bullpen, as the Pueublo, CO native went the final 4 1/3 inning scoreless and gave the offense a chance to rally.
Tariq Levesque and
Nicholas Palomino each had 2 hits in the game and Levesque was responsible for 3 of the Mustangs 8 RBI's.
GAME 4
The Mustangs welcomed
Kevin Whitaker back to the mound in Game 4. Whitaker who missed last season due to injury, got the start with a chance to win the series for the Mustangs. The El Paso native was scheduled to throw only 2 innings and Whitaker allowed only 1 run and 2 hits in 2 innings of work.
Nick Martinez gave the Mustangs 3 valuable innings following Whitaker, before handing the ball off to
Carlos Baldenegro in the 6th inning. Martinez allowed only 1 run on 2 hits with 0 walks in his three innings of work. Baldenegro shut the door with 5 strikeouts in only 2 innings of work.
Jacob Wyly got the Mustangs on the board early with a 2-run home run in the 1st inning. Wyly finished the game going 2-2 with 2 runs and 3 RBI's.
Tariq Levesque had a perfect game at the plate as he reached base in all three trips to the plate. The Junior was 3-3 with 3 runs, 1 double and 3 RBI's.
GAME NOTES
