Mule Baseball vs. Crosbyton (2-17-14)

Mule Baseball vs. Crosbyton (2-17-14)

The Mule baseball team was a few players short when the season got under way when the Crosbyton Chieftains came to town. Chuy Manzanares took the mound for the Mules and gave up a home run on the second pitch he threw. But the Mules bounced back to defeat Crosbyton 9-2. 

The second batter reached first base on an error and the third batter drew a walk. A fly ball to right field was caught by Keagan Gonzales for the first out of the inning and a second runner crossed home. 

Manzanares struck out the next Chief after taking the count full. Manzanares walked a second batter before striking out the seventh batter he faced on three pitches. The Mules trailed 2-0 after the first half inning of play. 

Braden Bessire led off for the Mules and lofted a fly ball to deep left field. The Chief misjudged the ball and Bessire reached second base. Bessire stole third base on a pitch to Nathan Rejino. 

Rejino took the count full and drew a walk. Following an out Dustin Smith blasted a double to right center field and scored both Bessire and Rejino. Manzanares, Reese Orozco and Eddie Elizalde walked the bases full. 

Eddie Elizalde laid a bunt down the first base line. The pitcher charged the ball but over threw the first baseman. The error allowed Smith and Manzanares to cross the plate. A second Mule struck out before Bessire returned to the plate with the bases loaded. 

Bessire singled to right field and scored both Lutz and Orozco. Bessire motored on to second on the throw home. Rejino hit a ground ball to short stop but the first baseman failed to catch the throw. E Elizalde and Bessire scored easily on the error and Rejino kept running until he reached third base. 

Gonzales blasted a ground ball down the first base line that tied the hands of the first baseman. Rejino scored and the Mules led 9-2 when the first inning ended. 

The Mules gave up two more runs in the top of the fifth inning but the Mules held on for the win. 

The Mules were scheduled to host the Morton Indians Tuesday afternoon but the Indians were to short of players to field a team. The Mules will play in the Littlefield Wildcat Tournament February 27 through March 1.