The Master’s University baseball team fell to Simpson University 7-5 Tuesday afternoon at Lou Herwaldt Stadium.

The loss dropped TMU’s overall 2017 record to 15-16.

The Red Hawks jumped on the board first by posting three runs in the top of the first inning. TMU responded in the bottom of the first when Mustang designated hitter Jonah Jarrard homered to right field, a two-run blast that also drove in Max Maitland, who had reached on an infield single. It was Jarrard’s fourth roundtripper of the year.

TMU posted three more runs in the third inning after Maitland singled to right field, plating teammate Moises Garcia. Moments later, Aaron Shackelford launched a two-run home run, his team-leading eighth of the season, that brought Maitland home with him.

With a 5-3 advantage, things seemed to be going TMU’s way. However, the Red Hawks quickly turned things around and jumped ahead 7-5 after scoring a run in the top of the fourth inning, followed by a three-run homer in the top of the fifth inning.

Over the final four innings, the Red Hawks kept the Mustang bats silent and put them under .500.

Maitlaind highlighted TMU’s performance by going 4-4 with one rbi. Notably, Shackelford, who went 1-4, tallied two rbi in Tuesday’s loss. Mustang pitcher Nate Bonsell (2-4) was pegged with the loss after giving up four hits and three runs in just one-third inning of work.

Commenting on Tuesday’s loss, TMU head coach Monte Brooks said, “They had a couple of big innings to take the lead and we had some opportunities to close the gap but fell short.”

Looking ahead to this weekend, TMU will compete on the road in Phoenix, Arizona, against Arizona Christian in a three-game, GSAC series. Friday’s first pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m., while Saturday’s doubleheader will begin at 11:00 a.m.