Mustangs Drop Doubleheader to Park

PARKVILLE, Mo. - The Mustangs dropped the final two games to Park in the Heart conference opening series, 12-6 and 6-4, on Monday in Parkville.

Game One

The Mustangs were led on offense by Jeremy Figueroa in game one, going 3-4 from the dish and recording a team high two RBIs. Jaden Hackbarth, Tyler Pecson, and Nick Meyer would join Figueroa with multiple hits, as the trio would finish with two hits each.

The Mustangs would jump out to a four run lead early, as Drew Terpins drove in a run, while Figueroa capped off the four run second inning with a double to center, scoring Hackbarth and Cedric Dunnwald. In the third, Pecson would drive in his RBI on a solo shot to left field, as the Mustangs extended the lead to five.

Park would respond with five in the fourth, capped off by a two run single to right by Yadiel Santana, tying the game at five. Santana would then give the Pirates the lead in the sixth, singling up the middle to drive in a run. The big blow in the innings would come on a fielding error with two outs, as three runs would come across the plate on the play to extend the Pirate lead to five. Evan Johnson would then tack on another two RBIs to make it a 12-5 game. The Mustangs, however, would get one across on a hit by pitch, but the lead would prove to be too large for the Mustangs to come back.

Bryan Aguirre earned the win, nearly throwing a complete game at 6.2 innings while allowing six runs and striking out six. Jake Weissenberger was tabbed with the loss, allowing two earned runs.

Game Two

The Mustangs only managed to record four hits in the series finale, but those four hits would turn crucial in keeping the game close, leading to four runs on the scoreboard. Garrett Dennis would lead the team with a pair of knocks, while Bryce Brown led the squad with a pair of RBIs.

Park got the scoring started in the bottom of the first as Billy Rivera singled up the middle, driving in Alex Rodriguez to give the Pirates a one run lead. Gilberto Torres would then drive in Rivera on a groundout to extend the Pirate lead to two after the first inning. Torres would then tack on a solo shot to left field to move the lead up to four before the Mustangs got on the board.

In the fourth, Brown delivered his two RBIs in the form of a two run blast to left center, trimming the Pirates lead in half. But Park would answer with two in the bottom of the fifth, as Zayne Morrow drove in a pair on a single to center field. But the Mustangs would add two in the seventh, coming off the bat of Dennis and Figueroa, but the lead was not able to be taken back as the Mustangs fell in the game.

Jake Lufft earned the win, improving his record to 2-1, pitching six innings of three hit, four run ball while striking out four. Sebastian Del Olmo earned his first save of the season, closing out the game in the seventh inning while only allowing one hit. Jack Turgasen was tabbed with the loss, pitching three innings while allowing four runs and striking out three.

The Mustangs will return home to the Plaster Athletic Complex to take on the Missouri Valley Vikings in the home Heart opener, with first pitch Saturday slated for 1 p.m.