Mustangs Hunt Down Golden Lions

Under the roaring Thursday sun, the Mustangs hunted down the Golden Lions of Raritan Valley Community College with a final score of 4-3!

1st Inning: 2-0

Connor English started the game for the Mustangs with an incredible three pitch strikeout against the Golden Lions lead off batter. English allowed no runs and only four hits during the first 5 innings of the game!

With one out in the first inning, Sean McAfee started off the Mustangs rallys with a line drive into left field! Sean rocketed across the bases, advancing to second with defensive indifference, and hustled to third on a passed ball. This allowed McAfee to be in the perfect position for Hunter Hamlin to bat him in with a scorcher down the third base line!

Hamlin in a similar fashion advanced to second base on a wild pitch before straight up stealing 3rd base! Jacob Phillips wasted no time bringing Hunter home, as he launched his RBI double deep to right field to give the Mustangs the early 2-0 lead!

2nd Inning: 2-0

The Mustangs had a quiet second inning, but it was capitalized by a bunt single from our lead off man Francisco Tavares. Frank also picked up the Mustangs second stolen base of the game by stealing second!

3rd Inning: 4-0

After three more innings of stellar pitching by Connor English and a stalwart outfield who snagged 7 fly balls. The Mustangs got an offensive rally going once again!

Hunter Hamlin led off for the Mustangs and managed to reach first base on a throwing error by the opposing shortstop. Jacob Phillips continued his batting success with another double deep into right field as Hamlin advanced to third base!

Aiden Elam brought Hunter home with an RBI single into shallow left field. While Jacob Ankele allowed Jacob Phillips to score with a beautiful squeeze bunt down the third base line and reached first base with a single. After this rally, the Mustangs held a 4-0 lead!

4th Inning: 4-0

Morgan D'Amico was the highlight of the fourth inning. Morgan was a terror on the base path, after reaching first base with a line drive into left field! Afterwitch D'Amico stole second base and reached third base by defensive indifference. 

5th Inning: 4-0

Aiden Elam earned his second hit of the night with a line drive into shallow left field, before adding to the Mustangs clinic on "How to Steal Second Base" with the Mustangs fourth stolen base of the day!

6th Inning: 4-3

Raritan's bats came alive in the sixth inning due to some fielding errors from the Mustangs. But thankfully all three of the runs allowed were unearned for Connor English. The Golden Lions' rally came to a screeching halt as Catcher Hunter Hamlin's cannon of an arm caught one of the Lions stealing second to end the inning!

7th Inning: 4-3

With the game on the line the Mustangs brought their closer Morgan D'Amico in to pitch the last three innings of the game. And D'Amico brought the heat to the Golden Lions for the rest of the game! Morgan earned two strikeouts in a quick seventh inning shutdown to the Lions former rally.

Hunter Hamlin was the first up to bat for the Mustangs and started the inning off with a line drive into right field for a quick single. Hamlin advanced to second base after a sacrifice bunt from Connor English. And with a runner in scoring position and double machine Jacob Phillips up to bat, Raritan Valley intentionally walked Jacob Phillips. 

8th Inning: 4-3

Morgan D'Amico continued to pitch spectacularly earning his third strikeout of the game while keeping the Golden Lions hitless.

Jacob Ankele led off for the Mustangs to start the 8th inning, and while Jacob did strike out, the catcher dropped the ball giving Jacob the opportunity to show off his speed and reach first base on the dropped third strike. With the wind behind him, Ankele stole second base for the Mustang's 5th stolen base on the day.

9th Inning: 4-3

With the save in his sights Morgan D'Amico shut down Raritan Valley's offense, earning his fourth strikeout, and ending the game with a textbook 5-3 groundout. D'Amico threw three shutout innings, gave up no hits, and earned himself his first save of the season!

Statistical Standouts:

The Mustangs bats combined for 11 hits and 4 RBI's. Hunter Hamlin, Jacob Phillips, Aiden Ellam, and Jacob Ankele all earned themselves an RBI!  Francisco Tavares, Hunter Hamlin, Jacob Phillips, and Aiden Ellam were all tied for most hits with 2 each! However Jacob Phillips had the highest batting average with .666 after 2 doubles, and an on base percentage of .750 after his intentional walk.

Five Mustangs each stole a base, with today's thieves being Francisco Tavares, Morgan D'Amico, Hunter Hamlin, Aiden Elam, and Jacob Ankele. 

Our outfield put in work today amasing 12 putouts! Jacob Ankele caught 6, Aiden Elam caught 4, and Jacob Phillips caught 2 fly balls!

Conor English pitched 6 great innings today with no earned runs, and two strikeouts. Connor threw 51 of his 68 pitches for strikes for a 75% strike percentage!

Morgan D'Amico, pitched 3 shutout innings with 0 hits, and 4 strikeouts to secure the save for the Mustangs!

Coming Up Next:

Your Mustangs Baseball team has their last game of the season as they take on the #2 ranked Roadrunners of Rowan College of South Jersey - Gloucester at 3:30pm on Tuesday May 10th!