Master’s Hit Parade Plays On in Sweep of CLU

It might not go down as the seven days that shook the world, but for The Master’s College baseball team, the past week has been rather important.

“I don’t think we’ve hit the ball better than we have the last seven days,” Master’s Coach Pat Harrison said. And it has showed: Saturday’s doubleheader sweep of Cal Lutheran marked the fifth and sixth consecutive games in which the Mustangs have scored eight or more runs, and that streak has kept their playoff hopes alive.

The scores Saturday were 8-7 and 8-4, and the results improved Master’s record to 14-13, 4-6 in NAIA District 3 play. Cal Lutheran, which needed a sweep to ensure an early playoff invitation, is 12-7 and 6-3.

In their first two meetings of the season, CLU rallied from four-run and one-run deficits to beat Master’s in the final three innings.

Saturday was pay-back time. The Mustangs scored twice in the seventh and final inning to erase a one-run deficit and win the first game, then used a four-run sixth to overcome a 3-2 margin and win the second game, which was called in the bottom of the eighth because of darkness. (In college doubleheaders, a game can be scheduled for fewer than nine innings.)

The Mustangs collected 14 hits in both games. Sheldon Sparks led the way with five hits and four runs batted in, extending to 12 games a hitting streak that has lifted his batting average from .250 to a team-leading .358.

Master’s, however, continues to have defensive lapses on the field and control problems on the mound. In the doubleheader, the Mustangs committed four errors that led to three unearned runs. And their four pitchers combined for eight walks, four hit batters, two wild pitches and two balks.

Starting pitcher Jeff Cole walked three of the first five CLU batters he faced before giving up a grand slam to Dan Weis. In the second inning, Cole threw a wild pitch that allowed two runners to score.

The Master’s scored one run in the first on Andy Martin’s double, two in the second on Sparks’ two-run double, and tied the score, 6-6, with three in the third. Tony Jaime (three for four) had an RBI double and Mark MacArthur followed with a two-run home run.

Cal Lutheran regained the lead in the sixth inning on Dave Leonhardt’s run-scoring single to right off Rick Simpson. However, Chris Matkin, CLU’s third pitcher, lost the game on five pitches.

With one out, Matkin gave up singles on consecutive pitches, intentionally walked a batter without throwing a pitch, and then allowed two run-scoring singles.

In the second game, Adam Davis (2-1) threw a five-hitter and gave up one earned run for Master’s.