The University of the Southwest Mustangs welcomed Xavier (LA.) to Hobbs, New Mexico, for some conference action. Coming off of a loss during the week to Wayland Baptist, the Mustangs were looking to bounce back and improve their standing in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC). Southwest would take games one and three of the series against the Gold Nuggets to win the series and improve their record to 16-12.
 
GAME 1
Xavier would strike first in the opening game of the series when they were able to get a couple of runners on against starter Cody Stone and drive one of them in with a single. Stone would have a strong performance on the mound for the Mustangs as the Junior would go all seven innings with five strikeouts and allowed just three runs, earning his fourth win.  
 
The Mustangs would answer in a big way as they got the bases loaded for Andru Sanchez. The Senior would launch a no-doubt grand slam to right field to put the Mustangs on the board and up 4-1. 
 
In the top half of the 2^nd inning, the Gold Nuggets would manufacture another run with another RBI single with two outs to cut the lead to two.
 
A couple of innings later, the offense would get on the board again when Jose Chavez Jr. grounded out to second base to bring in Sanchez for the fifth run. 
 
Xavier would tack on another in the 6^th inning with a solo home run to left field, but that would be all as the Mustangs would take game one 5-3. 
 
GAME 2
Xavier would have quite a bounce-back game in the second game of Friday's doubleheader. The Gold Nuggets would get off to a quick start against starter Chisum Rush by putting up seven runs in the first three innings.
 
Southwest would finally strike in the 5^th inning as Kevin Diaz would single to bring in a run. A few batters later, Carson Miller would walk to force in another run and make it a 7-2 game with four innings left.
 
Unfortunately, it would not get past the 7^th inning, as Xavier would another seven runs in the game's final two innings to put it out of reach and give them game two by a score of 14-2.
 
GAME 3
In the series decider, Xavier struck first once when a leadoff walk would eventually come around to score on a passed ball. 
 
The Mustang offense would not be so quiet on this day as they got to work early. It started with a Gavin VanGronigen double to bring in the inning's first run. VanGronigen would later score on a catcher error while Carson Miller stole second base. After reaching third base on the error, Miller would be brought in with an Andru Sanchez sacrifice fly to make it 3-1. 
 
USW would not be done, as they would explode for an impressive ten runs in the 2^nd inning. The ten-run inning would be highlighted by Sanchez's 3-run home run, his second home run in as many days. 
 
Xavier would try to pull themselves back up as they scored two runs in the top of the 3^rd against, making it a 13-3 ballgame. 
 
Some insurance would be added for the Mustangs in the 4^th inning, with Kevan Diaz singling in Kevin Rase. Later in the inning, Miller would single in Diaz and advance to second base on the throw. Jesus Baldonado would cap the 4^th inning scoring with a single to bring in Miller and put the USW up 16-3.
 
The 5^th inning had some more scoring for the Mustangs, with another five runs to make it 21-3. Miller would contribute with another RBI single, and Baldonado delivered a 2-RBI double to left field. 
 
It was smooth sailing until the 6^th inning when the Gold Nuggets would get themselves a two-run home run to cut the lead to 16. Xavier would shock USW by putting up seven runs in the 7^th inning to make it a 21-12 game and avoiding the mercy rule. 
 
Xavier would add another two runs in the top of the 8^th inning before Freshman Miguel Olivas would put out the fire with a scoreless top of the 9^th, ending the crazy second half of this game at a score of 21-14. 
 
Head Coach Steve Appel said this following the series win, "We found a way to win the series which is most important. "We were able to beat their best arm and somehow found a way to contain them during the last game. None of the games were pretty for both sides as the weather was bitterly cold, our guys just found a way in games one and three." 
 
"We had good pitching, defense, and timely hitting in game one and our offense made some nice adjustments in day two to put up some big runs early to secure the series win. Our struggle has still been the consistency on the mound, and once we find that, this team could be fun to watch down the stretch." 
 
"A big preparation week ahead of us as we welcome a really good team to Hobbs, America in LSUS," said Coach Appel. We are going to have to really get after it in all aspects if we want to sneak a couple of games from them. As always, the favor is with us as we are at home and we know we are a tough team to play at 'The Jake.'"
 
USW Baseball will travel to Lubbock Christian on Monday before continuing conference play against LSU Shreveport next weekend. Continue to follow USW Athletics and USW Baseball on all social media for scores and updates throughout the season.