Blunders Cost #4 Mesa Game 1 Against Glendale, 6-5 (10)

Mesa, AZ- The Mesa Thunderbirds dropped game 1 of the ACCAC DII Regional Semi-Finals against Glendale Thursday afternoon in ten innings, 6-5.

The T-Birds defense didn't help their starting pitcher, Kent Hasler, as they committed four errors, two in the third that led to a three run inning for the Gauchos.

Hasler did pitch nine innings for Mesa, giving up only four hits with nine strikeouts.  Three runs did score but none of them earned.

Down 3-1 in the fifth, with runners on first and second, Mitchell Morimoto doubled to center field, scoring Mike Roberson and Hunter Bross.  Morimoto went 3-5 with two RBI's for the T-Birds.  Garrett Smith also knocked in two runs for Mesa while going 1-4.

Hasler was able to go nine innings for Mesa but John Cranston took over in the 10th and the first Gaucho batter he faced knocked one over the left field fence, not more than a yard from being foul.  

Glendale posted two more runs in the 10th to go up 6-3.  Mesa made a valiant effort in the bottom half of the 10th frame, collecting three singles to lead off the inning, the third single scoring Esteban Martinez.  

An Apodaca sac fly cut the Gaucho led to one.  Mesa was able to load the bases but a Hunter Bross ground out finalized the game one victory for the Glendale.  

These two will be back at it tomorrow at 3 p.m. at Mesa.