On the back of a one-hit shutout delivered by Carlos Lopez (Sr.), the Mustang Broncos opened the 2024 regular season with a run-rule win over the Noble Bears on Friday.
Spring sports officially kicked off last week with the Broncos unloading for eight runs on five hits and five Noble errors.
Lopez needed just 59 total pitches as he racked up nine strikeouts in his first victory of the season. He retired the side in order four times before the Broncos ended the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Coach Joe Patterson’s team recorded five hits, including two apiece from centerfielder Blaine Fulmer (Jr.) and third baseman Jackson Pickelsimer (Sr.).
Fulmer led off the bottom of the second inning with a single before later scoring on Lopez’s double. Pickelsimer singled in the first and fifth innings and eventually scored both times.
Shortstop Kaden Williams (Jr.) sparked Mustang’s offense in the first inning by reaching and moving to second on an error. He moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring on Pickelsimer’s single to right field.
Second baseman Maddox Lawson (Sr.) followed Pickelsimer’s knock with a walk. He later scored after free passes to catcher Wyatt Williamson (So.) and left fielder Carson Sawyer (Sr.) and a hit-by-pitch drawn by designated hitter Jake Blice (Sr.).
Shortstop Kaden Williams (Jr.) swings at a pitch during Mustang’s second home game of the 2023-24 season vs Edmond Santa Fe. Williams went 1-for-3 in the the Broncos’ season-opening win over Noble last Friday. (Photo by Ron Lane / Lane Images)
Pickelsimer’s second single started a three-run fifth inning. He eventually moved to second, stole third, and scored on an error to give the Broncos a six-run lead. Williamson and Blice scored on Noble’s second error of the frame, ending the game at 8-0.
The Broncos chased Noble starter Jackson Steely (So.) after just two innings. He allowed five runs, including one earned, on three hits and three walks. Weston Randolph (So.) allowed three unearned runs on two hits and a walk over the final 2 2/3 innings.
Mustang followed its Opening Day victory with an 11-3 loss to Edmond Santa Fe (4-0) before losing its first two-game district set to Choctaw (2-0, 2-0) 12-6 and 2-1.
The Broncos host the Duncan Demons (1-1) today at 5 p.m. before heading to the Piedmont and Deer Creek Tournament this weekend.
