Auburn, ME - The CM Mustangs watched two games slip away on Saturday, dropping to St. Joseph of Vermont 11-3 and 12-1.
In the first game, the Fighting Saints scored early on a double by Kyle Gould in the first inning and a groundout by Jason Albert in the second inning. CM had a few opportunities but struggled to put runs on the board throughout the game.
CM managed to keep things tight until the seventh, coming into the frame down 6-3. St. Joe's scored five runs in the seventh inning. The inning was driven by errors on balls put in play by Teddy Mercado and Benny Pena. Doubles by Tristen Ciarlo and Matthew Santiago scored three runs.
Justin Holmberg led things on the hill for Fighting Saints. He allowed three hits and three runs over six and two-thirds innings, striking out 11. Jared Rubin started the game for the Mustangs. He battled over five and a third innings, striking out three in a gutsy performance. Nik Tormans threw one and two-thirds innings out of the bullpen.
Eric Hoogterp led the offense in game 1 with a no-doubter home run in the fourth inning. Austin Love helped the cause with an RBI single in the sixth and Kaden Cutler drew two walks, scoring after his second. Tormans also chipped in with a hit.
St. Joe's totaled nine hits. Santiago and Ciarlo each racked up multiple hits.
In the second game, the Mustangs watched the game slip away early and couldn't recover. The Fighting Saints began their offensive onslaught on a single by Gould, a single by Jason Albert, a walk by William Leino, and a single by Santiago in the first inning. The Mustangs had no answer offensively and had a tough time defensively throughout the game.
Leino was the winning pitcher for St. Joseph Fighting Saints. He went all five innings, allowing three hits and one run while striking out six and walking one.
Nick Powers took the loss for Central Maine. He worked for three and a third innings, striking out three.
Hoogterp, Love, and Cutler each collected hits to lead the Mustangs.