NEWPORT NEWS, VA -- There is a famous idiom that says, "There is a first time for everything." For the MACU baseball program, there have been a lot of first since the program started in 2020. However, one opponent had always alluded the Mustangs and that was conference rival Apprentice. Over the past three campaigns, the Builders had the Mustangs number, winning all six contests, but that changed on Tuesday afternoon as MACU defeated the reigning USCAA National Champions, 3-2 at War Memorial Stadium.

THE BASICS
FINAL | MACU 3, Apprentice 2
RECORDS | MACU 13-16, Apprentice 21-6
LOCATION | Newport News, Va. - War Memorial Stadium

HOW IT HAPPENED
Both pitching staffs started off strong as neither team had a runner reach until the third inning. Apprentice struck first, in the third inning, as the Builders scored off of an RBI double to left field to take the 1-0 lead. 

MACU found it's time to strike in the top of the fifth inning. Back-to-back walks from Apprentice pitching led to Jack Valachovic sacrificing the runners to second and third base with one out on the board. Josiah Collado grounded out to third base but during the play, scored Travis Snell from third. Anthony Torres stepped up to the plate and knocked in the second run of the inning as he sent a single to center field that brought in Elijah Ollman to push the Mustangs ahead 2-1.

Apprentice notched the tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Builders brought another run around to touch home off of a fielder's choice.

MACU dug deep and scratched across a run in the top of the eighth as Giovanny Mendez sent a hard RBI single to right field to register the winning run for MACU.

MACU was buoyed by an incredible pitching performance from junior Caleb Whitley. Whitley started the contest, threw eight complete while giving up just two earned runs off of four hits. The junior struck out three and walked three as he registered his fourth win of the campaign. Cole and Colin Langley came in to shut the door against the Apprentice offense in the ninth and Colin Langley registered his second save of the season.

NEXT UP
The Mustangs come back home to face off against Morris College in a doubleheader on Friday afternoon. First pitch between the Mustangs and the Hornets is scheduled for noon at Pasquotanks County High School.