Steven Karkenny
The Master’s College baseball team (21-7, 14-4 GSAC) won its tenth and eleventh straight GSAC games against Westmont College (14-12, 7-10 GSAC) on Saturday, sweeping the doubleheader in Santa Barbara 6-4 (Game 1) and 7-1 (Game 2).
Steven Karkenny (Chatsworth, CA) was 2-for-4 with three RBI’s, and Joe Riddle (Bakersfield, CA) added two RBI’s in game one. The Mustangs trailed Westmont 4-1 before scoring four runs in the top of the fifth.
Leading 6-4 in the ninth, TMC’s Cody Harris (Lakewood, CA) struck out David Pennington with the bases loaded to record his second save.
Joe Riddle
Mustang starting pitcher, James Scott (Canyon Country, CA), allowed four runs in the first two innings but kept TMC within striking distance, giving up no runs and two hits in his next four innings of work. Andrew Klausmeier (Northridge, CA) pitched two and two-thirds scoreless innings out of the bullpen, giving up two hits and striking out three.
In game two Tyler Elrod (Modesto, CA) pitched six innings, allowing one run on six hits, and striking out five. Elrod earned his sixth win and lowered his ERA to 2.56.
Spencer Downs (Kelso, WA), Chris Talley (Simi Valley, CA), and Riddle drove in two runs each for the Mustangs. TMC never trailed, as Jon Popadics (Boise, ID) led off the game with an infield single. Popadics then stole second before Downs scored him with a single.
Leading 3-1 entering the top of the seventh, the Mustangs put the game away, scoring four runs, highlighted by Riddle’s two RBI single.
The Mustangs will have the opportunity to avenge their only GSAC series loss, and no-hitter, of the season next weekend, when they play a three game series against Biola in La Mirada. First pitch is at 12:00 PM on Friday, March 15.
Game Notes:
* The Mustangs have now beaten Westmont in nine of the teams’ last 11 meetings.
* TMC now leads Concordia by two and half games after the Eagles split a doubleheader at Vanguard on Saturday.
Mustangs Extend Winning Streak to 11
