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Mustangs open season with blowout win By Danny Penza Updated: Jun 08, 2022 10:20 PM A A 6 View all photos Waiting 24 hours to play their season opener didn’t seem to have an impact on the Medford Mustangs. The Mustangs began their 2022 summer season with a bang Wednesday night, as Medford recorded 15 hits and got quality pitching across the board in a resounding 14-1 victory over the Klamath Falls Falcons at Lithia & Driveway Fields. “Really happy with our pitching,” said Mustangs head coach Nate Mayben. “We threw four guys and all of them came in and threw strikes and did a great job of pitching to contact. Defensively, we did a great job making plays — just routine plays, nothing special, nothing fancy, just getting outs.” “Hitting-wise, we had some good at-bats where we scored some runs,” continued Mayben. “(Klamath Falls) didn’t help us out, either. I think we earned most of them. I’m happy, man. It’s a good start for this young group and I look forward to these next eight weeks.” The Mustangs (1-0) face their first road test of the season Thursday night at 6 p.m. against the Roseburg Dr. Stewart’s at Legion Field. “It’s going to be tough,” said Mayben. “Roseburg is a tough ball club. They’re well-coached, they’re going to play the game hard and they’re going to play the game the right way. It will be a nice challenge to see where we’re at.” Medford never trailed in Wednesday’s game, with starting pitcher Owen Thompson and the three relief pitchers who followed him working with a comfortable lead from the third inning on. The Mustangs took early command with a five-run surge in the bottom of the second. Jeremiah Robbins scored the season’s first run when leadoff man Cody Borraggine was hit by a pitch. Moments later, Frankie Rutigliano and Thompson scored on a wild pitch and a Klamath Falls error, respectively, to put Medford ahead 3-0. Jace Miller capped the big inning with a two-run double to push the lead to 5-0. “That was a big, big hit,” said Mayben of Miller’s two-run double. Miller, the Mustangs’ cleanup hitter, was one of four Medford hitters to finish with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles, three RBIs and a run scored. Tanner Douglas finished 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored, while Aiden Horsley went 2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and also scored two runs. Rutigliano also had a three-hit day, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Douglas, Miller and Horsley, Medford’s Nos. 3, 4 and 5 hitters finished a combined 7-for-11 with five extra-base hits and six RBIs. With Mayben spreading out the innings in Game 1 of the season, Thompson — who also had two RBIs at the plate — threw two shutout frames and struck out three, needing just 25 pitches to sit Klamath Falls down in quick order. Beau Aldrich threw the next three, striking out three and giving up the only Falcons run, which came on a Medford fielding error in the top of the fifth. Horsley and Borraggine finished out the game on the mound, each throwing two shutout innings apiece and allowing one hit over that span. In total, the four Mustangs pitchers struck out 10 batters and walked just two. “Really pleased with Owen and Beau coming out and doing what they did,” said Mayben. “They’re two (Class) 3A guys coming out and competing at this level really well. They kept the ball in the zone and our defense did a stellar job behind them. I’m really happy to see those two guys come out and contribute as the first two guys of the season.” Klamath Falls Falcons 000 010 000 — 1 3 3 Medford Mustangs 051 102 05x — 14 15 2 Cheyne, J. Baker (3), Lobdol (4), Graham (5), N. Baker (6), Villa-Foeo (8) and Harper; Thompson, Aldrich (3), Horsley (6), Borraggine and Wallace. W — Thompson (1-0). L — Cheyne. 2B — M: Miller 2, Douglas, Robbins. 3B — M: Douglas, Horsley . Reach reporter Danny Penza at 541-776-4469 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @penzatopaper. Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune Medford Mustangs pitcher Owen Thompson delivers a strike during the second inning against the Klamath Falls Falcons at Lithia & Driveway Fields in Medford Wednesday evening. Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune Medford Mustangs Tanner Douglas gets hit by a pitch during the first inning against the Klamath Falls Falcons at Lithia & Driveway Fields in Medford Wednesday evening. Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune Medford Mustangs pitcher Owen Thompson delivers a strike during the second inning against the Klamath Falls Falcons at Lithia & Driveway Fields in Medford Wednesday evening. Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune Medford Mustangs infielder Frankie Rutigliano throws to first base for an out against the Klamath Falls Falcons at Lithia & Driveway Fields in Medford Wednesday evening. Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune Medford Mustangs’ Tanner Douglas connects for a double during the fourth inning against the Klamath Falls Falcons at Lithia & Driveway Fields in Medford Wednesday evening. Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune Medford Mustangs’ Cody Borraggine slides to third base safe during the second inning against the Klamath Falls Falcons at Lithia & Driveway Fields in Medford Wednesday evening.