Mule Baseball vs. Tulia & Tahoka Tourny (3-3&7-8-15)

Mule Baseball vs. Tulia & Tahoka Tourny (3-3&7-8-15)

Spring must have finally arrived as the Mule baseball team opened their home season Tuesday against the Tulia Hornets Tuesday afternoon. The Mules 10-run ruled the Hornets 12-2 in just five innings.

Dustin Smith was the winning pitcher. He gave up one hit, one walk and hit one batter but no runs crossed the plate in Smith’s three innings of work. He recorded three strike outs.

The Mules traveled to Tahoka for the Bulldog Tournament Friday afternoon and run ruled the Plains Cowboys 16-0. No statistics were available for that game.

The Mules fell to the Kermit Yellow Jackets 6-2. Wes Clarkson was the losing pitcher. He gave up three runs on six hits and the Mules committed three errors in Clarkson’s four innings of work.

The Mules bounced back in the third place game to run rule the Slaton Tigers 12-1. Smith was the winning pitcher. He gave up no runs on two hits, walked one and the Mules committed two errors in Smith’s four innings.

Braden Bessire was hit by the Tulia pitcher on his first trip to the plate. He advanced to second base on the first pitch to Beto Diaz. Nathan Rejino doubled to center field to score Bessire. The Mules led 1-0 after one inning.

Bessire ignited a five-run Mule rally in the third inning with a single to left field. He moved to second and third on consecutive passed balls. Diaz was hit by a pitch and went to second on a passed ball.

An error by the third baseman allowed Rejino to reach first base. Bessire and Diaz scored on the error. Smith was hit by a pitch and was doubled off when Pancho Elizalde lined out to the pitcher.

Clarkson reached on an error by the left fielder and Rejino scored. Danny Campos was hit by a pitch. Grey Johnson singled to left field to score both Clarkson and Campos. The Mules led 6-0 after three innings.

Bessire led off the fourth inning with a double to right center field. Diaz sacrificed Bessire to third base. Rejino drew a walk and got himself into a rundown between first and second. During the melee Bessire scored to put the Mules ahead 7-0 after four innings.

Tulia scored the Hornets two runs in the top of the fifth inning.

The Mules answered with five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Clarkson singled, Campos walked and Johnson reached on a throwing error by the Hornet pitcher. Clarkson and Campos scored on the play.

Jason Florez singled up the middle to score Johnson. Florez scored on a throwing error. Bessire drew a walk and stole second base. He scored on a base hit by Diaz.

Bessire had two hits and scored four runs. Diaz, Rejino, Smith, Clarkson, Johnson and Florez had one hit each.

The Mules led the Yellow Jackets of Kermit 2-1 after one inning. The Mules could generate no more offense after that. Kermit scored one run in the first inning, one in the third inning, one in the fourth inning and three in the sixth inning.

Bessire, Rejino, Clarkson and Campos scored two runs each against the Slaton Tigers.

The Mules traveled to Lubbock Roosevelt Tuesday to play the Eagles. The Mules return home Saturday to host the Sundown Roughnecks at noon.