Steven Karkenny

Steven Karkenny (Chatsworth, CA) wasted no time before making a statement on Saturday. The sophomore hit a leadoff home run on the second pitch he saw and the Mustangs didn’t look back, never trailing in a doubleheader sweep of Vanguard, 7-0 and 3-1.

The home run was Karkenny’s first of the season, but he wasn’t done, going deep again in the fifth.

“I was just looking to put a good swing on a good pitch…our team played well in all three aspects…offense, defense, and pitching,” Karkenny said.

The seven runs were more than enough for TMC’s James Scott (Canyon Country, CA), who threw six scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out six while improving to 2-2. The Mustang bullpen dominated after Scott was through, with a trio of hurlers combining for three perfect innings while striking out five.

In game two, the Mustangs rode the pitching of Tyler Elrod (Modesto, CA), who went five innings, allowing one run on six hits and lifting his record to 3-1. The Master’s struck early, scoring three runs in the first inning on four hits, highlighted by Joe Riddle’s (Bakersfield, CA) two-run single.

In the second, John Schwer’s rbi single cut the Mustang lead to 3-1, but neither team scored over the last five innings. Daniel Sheaffer (Mt. Airy, NC) picked up his second save for the Mustangs.

The first-place Mustangs (12-5, 8-4 GSAC) have won five straight conference games and will return to action Friday at home against Arizona Christian in the first game of a three-game weekend series.  The first pitch on Friday will be thrown at 2:00pm.