Familiar theme, opposite result
3 days after beating Cherokee Trail by the 10-run rule, CT returns the favor with a 12-2 victory in 6 innings; teams again tied at the top of the Centennial League.
AURORA – The favor has been returned.
Three days after beating Cherokee Trail in a game shortened by the 10-run rule to take control of the Centennial League, Mullen suffered the same fate on Tuesday. The Mustangs were hammered 12-2 by the host Cougars to force another tie at the top of the loop.
With four league games to go, Mullen is 14-4 overall and tied in the Centennial at 8-2 with CT, which is 13-5 overall.
The Mustangs were hit for a seven-run second inning and never recovered.
“We didn’t make adjustments,” Mullen head coach Phil Stanford said. “(The Cougars) did, Cherokee Trail made some nice adjustments from what it saw on Saturday. They did and we didn’t. We didn’t see the opportunities that were there.”
CT only had six hits, but three Mustangs pitchers combined to issue 10 walks and hit a batter. Plus, Mullen had two errors.
Offensively, Mullen managed just two hits, doubles by Sage Hurley and Owen Marsh, who took the loss on the mound. The Mustangs also drew just two walks.
“We have to earn how to overcome it,” Stanford said. :”We’re normally pretty good at attacking, we attack. We put the foot on the accelerator and get it done.
“This will be a good test of our character. We’ve learned from each of our previous losses and we’ve been able to get better from them.”
Mullen will have two home-and-away matchups in league – home vs. Eaglecrest on Thursday, May 5, and at the Raptors on Saturday, May 7, 11 a.m.; and home vs. Arapahoe on Tuesday, May 10, 4:15 p.m., and at the Warriors on Thursday, May 12, 4:15 p.m.
In league, CT has two with Cherry Creek and two with Smoky Hill.
The Mustangs will complete their regular season on Saturday, May 14, with a nonleaguer at Mountain Range in Westminster, 11 a.m.
CHEROKEE TRAIL 12, MULLEN 2, 6 inn.
Mullen 000 020 -- 2
Cherokee Trail 070 104 – 12
Mullen – Hurley 2-0-1-1, A. Brady 3-0-0-0, Krza 2-0-0-0, H. Stewart 2-0-0-0, Jackson 1-0-0-0, MacKenzie 3-0-0-0, Moore 3-0-0-0, Marsh 1-1-1-1, T. Stewart 1-1-0-0, Gamueda 2-0-0-0. Totals 20-2-2-2.
E – A. Brady, T. Stewart. LOB – 2. BB – Marsh, T. Stewart. 2B – Hurley, Marsh.
Pitching – Marsh (L) 1.2 IP, 3 H, 7 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 4 K; Fuentes 1 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 0 K; Shellhorn 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K. WP – Marsh, Fuentes. Shellhorn hit a batter.
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