Hobbs, NM - Southwestern Christian and the University of the Southwest finished their four-game series today, with both teams winning one game today. The Mustangs would shut out the Eagles in Game 3 10-0, but SCU's offense would finally click, as they put up 19 runs in a Game 4 win.
Game 3
Southwestern Christian entered the day looking to split the series with the Mustangs, but the University of the Southwest had different plans in Game 3. The Mustangs first got to Eagles starting pitcher
Elian Cuevas in the second inning, getting out to a quick 2-0 lead. USW would keep grabbing at least one run for the next two innings, and broke the game open with home runs in the 4th and 6th innings. Cuevas, through 3.0 innings, only allowed five hits and struck out five, but he walked three and hit one with a pitch in his outing. He faced 18 batters.
Matt Gamblin and
Anthony Wilson came out of the pen in the game, but with no run support from the Eagles offense, were unable to stop the bleeding. Offensively,
Matys Gagnon led the Eagles with a 3-hit game, and
Jhors Gomez would find a walk to couple with his 1-2 day.
Draike Sparks would have the Eagles' only other walk in the game, and
Braden Browning would knock SCU's only XBH with a double.
Top Pitchers:
Elian Cuevas: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 5 K, 3 BB, 5 R, 18 BF
Matt Gamblin: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K, 2 BB, 3 R, 7 BF
Anthony Wilson: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 4 K, 0 BB, 2 R, 11 BF
Top Batters:
Matys Gagnon: 3-3
Jhors Gomez: 1-2, 1 BB
Braden Browning: 1-3, 2B
Draike Sparks: 0-2, BB
Game 4
The Eagles unlocked their offense in the final game of the series, exploding for 19 runs as they stole the last game of the series, 19-5. Although they fell behind early, the Eagles were able to rally and shut down the Mustangs after the 2nd inning, getting the scoring started in the third when they scored on a wild pitch with bases loaded. In the 4th, an error from the Mustangs would allow SCU's 2nd run to cross.
Gregory Berroa would not let the error go unpunished, knocking a 2RBI single in the fourth to bring SCU within one run.
Dario Paredes, feeling inspired by all the long balls hit over the weekend, decided to launch a 3 run homer to give SCU the lead in the same inning. Berroa picked up another RBI in the next inning, and
Braden Browning got in on the action with an RBI single.
Jake Cox walked with the bases loaded, and
Draike Sparks singled following to tack on the Eagles' 12th run, but before the end of the fifth,
Joseph Boone would score on an error by the Mustangs. Paredes came back to the plate and hit a double in the 6th, but SCU decided they were not finished scoring just yet, and in the 7th inning, a
Matys Gagnon single,
Jhors Gomez home run, and another wild pitch would propel SCU up the final five runs. On the pitching side,
Korey Aytes got the win, going 4.0 innings and allowing only 3 hits, while striking out five.
Mozart Duarte was the starter for SCU, allowing all 5 Mustang runs in 2.0 IP, and
Kyle Duffey closed the game out with 2 Ks and only 1 walk.
Top Pitchers:
Korey Aytes: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 5 K, 0 R, 15 BF, W
Kyle Duffey: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 R, 4 BF
Mozart Duarte: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 4 BB, 3 K, 5 R, 14 BF
Top Batters:
Dario Paredes: 2-3, 3 BB, 2 R, 4 RBI, HR
Gregory Berroa: 4-5, 1 BB, 4 R, 3 RBI, 3B
Jhors Gomez: 1-4, 1 BB, 3 R, 3 RBI, HR
Matys Gagnon: 2-3, 3 BB, 1 RBI
Joey Thornton: 1-5, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2B
At the end of the series, Southwestern Christian will begin the season 1-3. The Eagles next face Dallas Christian College on January 31st, and have high expectations for the series after waking up the offense in the Game 4 win to finish the first series of the year.
