Mustangs Down Bearkats 8-2

 

Kingwood journeyed to Klein Monday night (March 8th) to take on the 15 5A Klein Bearkats.  The Mustangs got on the board early as Junior center fielder Kenneth Negron and Junior shortstop Johnny Whittleman singled back to back.  Both runners were driven in by clean up hitter Sophomore right fielder Doug Simmons making the score 2-0 Kingwood.

 

In the 2nd inning Junior catcher John Seitz singled.  Junior outfielder Bruce Williams came into the game as a courtesy runner for Seitz.  Williams advanced to second base on a Junior second baseman Josh Fountain sacrifice.  Williams stole third base.  With one out, left fielder Thomas McCormick drove in Williams with a ground out to the right side of the infield.  Klein scored one run in the fourth inning to make the score after four full innings of play 3-1 Kingwood.

 

The Mustangs got right back on the scoring trail in the top of the 5th inning as Whittleman hit a solo home run over the center field fence.  Simmons doubled to the left center field gap and was promptly driven in by Senior first baseman Ryan Mize, making the score Kingwood 5 - Klein 1.  The Bearkats scored another run in the bottom of the 6th inning making the score 5-2 Kingwood.

 

Kingwood came out strong in their top of the 7th inning as Whittleman walked, stole second, and scored when Mize reached base on an error by the Bearkat shortstop.  Mize was driven in by a Seitz double into the left field corner.  Kingwood closed out the scoring in the contest when courtesy runner Bruce Williams was driven in by second baseman Josh Fountain, making the score 8-2 Kingwood.

 

Offensively, Kingwood was lead by lead off hitter, Greg Gossett, who was 3-4 with a double and 2 stolen bases. Johnny Whittleman was 2-3, walk – a homerun, 1 RBI, 3 runs scored and a stolen base.  Simmons was 2-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBI’s, 1 run scored.  Mize was 1-3 with a sac RBI.  John Seitz was 2-4 with a double, 1 run scored and an RBI.  Negron was 1-4, run scored, Fountain was 1-3, 1 RBI and McCormick was 1-3, 1 RBI.

 

For the Mustangs, Sophomore Ryan Torres took the hill and pitch four full innings giving up 2 hits and 1 run to receive the win.  Relief pitcher Junior Blake Stiehl came on to pitch the 5th and 6th innings giving up 1 run on 1 hit.  Kyle Denny would come on to close the game for Kingwood striking out all 3 batters he faced in the 7th inning.

 

Defensively, the Mustang pitchers got outstanding support by center fielder Kenneth Negron who ran down a line drive early in the contest that had extra bases and trouble written all over it.

 

Kingwood will be in action this weekend starting Thursday in the Pete Runnels Classic in Lufkin, Texas.