HOBBS, N.M. - Adams State Baseball was back in action on Saturday afternoon for games three and four of the series against the University of the Southwest. The first game of the day saw the Mustangs (8-5) jump to a 5-0 lead in the fourth and never look back as they were able to secure the win over the Grizzlies (0-11).
The Mustangs scored five run in both the fourth and the sixth innings which was enough to down Adams State. The Grizzlies were able to score in the fifth and sixth but did not match the offensive output the Mustangs put up.
The game started slowly as there was no scoring in the first three innings as both David Maldonado for Adams State and Marvin Galarza for the University of the Southwest started out the game strong on the bump.
The bottom of the fourth inning saw the bats come alive for the Mustangs as Othon Delacruz doubled to lead off the inning, and scored on an error by Maldonado. Two more runs scored on Tyler Erzen's error, to finish off the scoring PJ Sanchez hit another double two drive in two more runs and leave the Mustangs with a 5-0 lead.
The top of the fifth saw the Grizzlies get on the board with a Billy Ryan single to center to drive in Jared Gay for the first run of the game for Adams State. The inning ended in double play as the Mustangs were able to stop the scoring at one.
The top of the sixth saw the Grizzlies score three more runs as Erik Hildebrandt, Nico Nintze and Logan Bistrup all get on base to start the inning. Paul Gigilio hit a sac fly to drive in the first run and then Jared Gay singled to left to score the next two runs of the inning, bringing the Grizzlies to within one run.
One run was as close as the Grizzlies got to tying up the game as the bottom of the sixth saw the Mustangs score five more runs on only two hits as the Grizzlies fell apart on defense committing seven errors in the inning. Othon Delacruz took matters into his own hands as he hit a two-run homerun to left field.
Billy Ryan had a good day offensively with two hits and a RBI, Jared Gay drove in two runs as well on one hit. David Maldonado took the loss for the Grizzlies pitching 5.2 innings and striking out two Mustang hitters.
EJ Rendon continued his solid series for the Mustangs with three hits, Othon Delacruz who has also been red hot had two hits and two RBI courtesy of his home run. Marvin Galarza got the win for the Mustangs by pitching 5.2 innings and nine strikeouts.
Game Two saw the trend of the day continue as the Grizzlies did not keep up with the offense of the Mustangs.
Mustangs got on the board first with a run in the second inning, Adams State followed that up with two runs in the third which was their only scoring of the game. University of the Southwest then scored five runs in the fourth and three runs in the fifth to widen the gap to 9-2 which was the final score.
The second inning is where the scoring started for the Mustangs as Brian Rodriguez doubled to left and scored on an error by Patrick Huffaker. The Grizzlies put two across the plate in the second thanks to three doubles in the inning by Noah Befus, Nico Nintze, and Kolton Bleggi, respectively.
The bottom of the fourth saw the Mustangs score five runs off a two run double by Brain Rodriguez. A run scored off a balk from Dalton Carleo, and a groundout by Ben Tingen. The last run of the inning scored on an error by Kolton Bleggi.
The Mustangs were able to take advantage of four Grizzly errors in the inning to score three runs. Brian Rodriguez drove in two runs on a single to center for the Mustangs and was the only hit in the inning to drive in a run.
With the lead now at 9-2 the hole proved too much for the Grizzlies to come back from as the Mustangs got the win.
On offense for the Grizzlies Nico Nintze and Kolton Bleggi looked like twins today as they both had one hit and a RBI while both hitting doubles as well. Dalton Carleo took the loss for the Grizzlies pitching 4.0 innings with two strikeouts.
For the Mustangs Brain Rodriguez had three hits and four RBI to carry the offense today along with two doubles. Iganacio Elizalde got the win for the Mustangs pitching three innings in relief with two strikeouts.
The Grizzlies are back on the road next weekend in Odessa Texas to take on the UT Permian Basin Falcons. It will be a three game series with a doubleheader on Saturday and one game Sunday.
