Box Score GLENDALE, AZ---The Mustangs took on the Taylor University Trojans (Ind.) on Friday morning in their 3rd grade of the Coach Calderone Invitational hosted by Arizona Christian University. The Mustangs were looking to rebound from two tough losses to nationally ranked Antelope Valley and Arizona Christian on Thursday. The Mustangs took a 1-run lead into the bottom of the 8th, but the Trojans took the lead and then some by scoring 4 runs to secure an 8-5 victory. The loss brings the Mustangs record to 3-4 on the young season with the #15 Westmont College Warriors up next Saturday morning. 

"I thought we competed against a very good Taylor team" said Head Coach Steve Appel. "We have fought all weekend and we just came up on the short end today. We had some errors that cost us, and we didn't execute offensively in some crunch times. All this will eventually help us out down the road. This team can be very good, we just have to keep working and correct mistakes we have had early this season. I am looking forward to getting back to work tomorrow against another top 25 team."

The Mustangs jumped out a 1-0 lead in the 3rd inning, but were immediately met with 3 runs from the Trojans in the 3rd and 4th. But USW scored 3 in the top of the 6th to take the lead 4-3 and had a 5-4 lead as they went into the bottom of the 8th. Unfortunately some small ball and clutch hits gave the Trojans 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th to give themselves their final lead of the game. 

Kevin Whitaker got the start for the Mustangs and was scheduled to go 3-4 innings depending on pitch count. The senior went 4 innings allowing 3 runs (all unearned) and 2 hits while striking out 4. Nick Martinez came in relief in the 5th inning and baffled Trojan hitters for the next 3 innings allowing only 1 earned run. Carlos Baldenegro took the loss as he entered in the 8th inning with the lead. Baldenegro would allow 3 earned runs on 3 hits and 1 walk. The 3 runs are the first runs Baldenegro has allowed in 4 appearances this year. 

The Mustangs had a relatively quiet day at the plate as Tariq Levesque was the only Mustang with more than 1 hit on the day. One of Levesque's hits was a homerun sent over the right field fence to cut the Trojan lead to 3-2 in the 6th inning. The homerun is Levesque's 2nd of the season and gave him his 11th RBI of the year. 

The Mustangs will take on #15 Westmont College tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM MST.