In the opening game of this playoff series, the top 5 batters of the Mustangs order dominated the first 3 innings, and then the starting pitchers of both teams took over and dominated the rest of the game. In a very well played game that took just an hour and a half to play, Mike Pignat of CFR and John Groves of the Mustangs both deserved to win.
CFR looked to jump off to a quick start in the first inning as Rob McIssac reached third after walking, getting sacrificed over, but then for some reason tried to steal home and was tagged out by the Mustangs catcher. The Mustangs then came up and took their turn at bad base running as Bill Brousseau over-ran second trying to steal and got tagged out and then the Mustangs had a runner thrown out at home after a bloop single and some mis-communication by Mustangs runners and coaches. But the Mustangs were able to get a run when Tony D`Agostino hit an RBI single, the 4th Mustang hit in a row.
CFR though tied the game up immediately when Greg Milks knocked in Ryan Brez with an RBI single with 2 outs. Mustangs pitcher Groves would settle down after this single and retire the next 10 batters.
In the bottom of third, the Mustangs top 5 batters did exactly what they did in the first innings, as Bill Brousseau walked, got thrown out trying to steal again, and then Rob Hemmerich singled, Rob Wight singled, Gabi Peters singled for an RBI, and then D`Agostino doubled into the right field corner to score their 3rd run. The double would turn out to be the Mustangs last base runner of the evening as Pignat set down the next 11 batters.
While Pignat shut down the Mustangs, CFR was able to threaten in the 6th by getting runners on 2nd and 3rd with just one out after Geoff Nolan singled, but Groves got out of the jam un-scathed. The Mustangs then closed the game out in the 7th, by turning a double play to end the game in style.
Player of the Game : John Groves...7 IP, 4 hits, 4 K`s, 2 walks, 1 run
allowed.
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