HOBBS, NM---Coming off an emotional loss on Friday afternoon, the Mustangs and Saints played games 2 & 3 of their conference series on Saturday afternoon. The Mustangs dropped Game 2 by the score of 6-0, but bounced back with a huge 13-7 victory in Game 3 to avoid the conference sweep. After the weekend, the Mustangs are 6-14 overall and 1-2 in conference play. 

"We knew this weekend was going to be tough. We were facing one of the best staffs these kids will face all year. Our approach and mindset was right, it just didn't go our way in the first 2 games. They battled and showed some heart in Game 3. We had some decent pitching, good defense and timely hitting. When you lose a ballgame like we did in Game 1, they didn't know how to respond. We weren't in that situation at all this year so far. You're going to make mistakes, it's baseball. You have to get over it and have a short term memory." said Head Coach Steve Appel. 

GAME 2
OLLU 6---USW 0

Kevin Whitaker got the start on the mound for the Mustangs and looked like his old self in his first conference start in over 2 years. The redshirt senior threw 6 innings allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits while striking out 5. This was the longest outing of the season for Whitaker. AJ Cordova relieved Whitaker in the 7th and did not record an out in the 4 batters he faced. Saliel Rivera came in to clean up the inning and record the final 3 outs of the game while allowing 2 hits. 

The Mustang offense went cold in Game 2 as they only had 3 hits. The Mustang 5-7 hitters combined to go 0-9 in Game 2. 

GAME 3
USW 13---OLLU 7

The Mustangs made up for their offensive lul in game 2 as they exploded for 13 runs in Game 3 of the series. The Mustangs had 15 hits as a team and played a clean game defensively. 3 Mustangs had 3 hits in the game. Jacob Harris was 3-6 with 2 runs scored. Jacob Wyly was 3-5 with 2 runs and 3 RBIs. Freshman Seth Casias was 3-5 with 4 RBIs (career-high) and 1 run scored. Bobby Galindo wad 1-2 with 3 runs scored and 3 HBPs in the game. 

Nick Martinez got his first conference start of his career and threw 4 2/3 inning allowing 4 hits and 4 runs. Saliel Rivera threw 1 1/3 inning to earn the win. Alex Peterson and Orlan Warren finished out the final 3 inninings of the game. Warren retired the 3 batters he faced in the 9th inning. 

"We put up runs against a good left-handed starter" said Coach Appel. "Their relief arms are good as well. If we score that many runs off that staff, it shows we have the ability to do that against anybody else. We have to continue to believe in that and prove it." 

The Mustangs take to the road this weekend as they face off with #6 LSU-Shreveport for their first road conference series of the year. 
"I enjoy playing at Shreveport. I enjoy the knock em' down and get back up mentality. We are supposed to lose these games, but we have nothing to lose going in there. We have to go toe to toe with the big boy and that's a lot of fun. Anytime you can have that mentality and bring it to them, anything can happen and that's the great thing about baseball." said Head Coach Steve Appel on the Mustangs upcoming matchup with #6 LSU-Shreveport next weekend.