Mustangs split with Powell, crush Lockwood

The Lovell Mustangs put together a solid weekend of baseball last Thursday and Friday, splitting a non-conference doubleheader with Powell Thursday and crushing Lockwood, Montana, Friday, with all three games played at home in Cowley.

Lovell dropped the first game to Powell Thursday, 6-5, then won the nightcap 8-4. Friday, the Mustangs clobbered Lockwood 9-1.

Game one Thursday was a barnburner. Powell scored a run off Lovell starter Lafe Files in the top of the first, and the Mustangs answered with a run in the bottom of the inning when Cash Wassmer singled, stole second and scored on a base hit by Tucker Jackson.

Powell plated two more in the top of the second, and Lovell matched the pair with two in the fourth. Jackson doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a double by Alex Hedges. Hedges stole third and scored on a squeeze bunt by Kyle Wilson.

Powell scored one run in the fifth and added two off reliever Wilson in the sixth to lead 6-3, but the Mustangs rallied for two in the bottom of the seventh on a two-run single by Jackson, but Powell was able to wiggle out of the inning and preserve the 6-5 win.

Jackson had a monster game at the plate, going 3-4 with a double and three runs batted in. Wassmer was 2-4 including a double.

Files took the loss, throwing five innings and allowing four runs, one earned, on eight hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Wilson pitched two innings in relief, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk, fanning two.

Game two

The Mustangs plated four runs in the bottom of the first inning to jump on the Pioneers in game two. Consecutive doubles by Hedges, Wilson and Files scored three, and Files scored the fourth run on an error.

Powell scored one in the second and two in the third off Lovell starter Hedges to cut the Lovell lead to one, but the Mustangs scored three insurance runs in the fifth to lead 7-3. Mac Morgan singled home Dallen Bischoff in the sixth to make it 8-3, and Powell scored one run in the top of the seventh before reliever Jackson slammed the door on the rally.

Hedges picked up the win on the mound, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings of work, striking out seven. Bischoff pitched one-third of an inning, and Jackson threw one inning, allowing no runs and no hits.

Morgan and Jackson had two hits each for the Mustangs, Wassmer, Hedges, Wilson and Files one hit apiece.

Lockwood

Friday’s game was all Lovell as the Mustangs scored two runs in each the first, second and third innings, then added three more in the seventh, banging out 13 hits in the nine-inning game. Trailing 9-0, Lockwood finally scored a single run in the top of the ninth.

Hedges went 3-5 at the plate with a double and three RBIs and two runs. Wassmer, Jackson, Kannon Owens and Owen Edwards had two hits each, with Edwards driving in a pair of runs.

Jackson picked up the win on the hill, allowing no runs, four hits and two walks in five innings, fanning 11. Owens threw three innings of scoreless ball, and Wilson allowed a single run in the ninth.

Now 2-3, the Mustangs are scheduled to host Lockwood again Friday at 7 p.m. and will host the Sheridan Jets Sunday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.