Recap
Spring baseball continued on Sunday with the fourth game of the National Baseball League series. It was a do-or-die match for the Mustangs and they selected Mark Buttigieg to start on the mound. Mellieha countered with pitcher Mattheus Konno.
The Mustangs were patient in the 1st inning, drawing their walks and in doing so scoring 3 early runs. Mellieha played small ball in the bottom of the inning, getting on base and scoring 5 runs from the heart of the order composed of Keith Bartolo, Michael Bartolo and Vincenzo Mazzamuto.
Trailing in the 3rd inning, the Mustangs proceeded to give the fans the largest scoring inning of this year. The inning started with the bottom of the order taking their walks and retaking the lead. With a couple of men on base, slugger Efrain Dejan then hit a line drive to the left field wall for a long 2-run double to pad the lead and highlighted a big 9-run inning.
Mellieha cut their deficit immediately and made it a close 2-run game. Reliever Vincenzo Mazzamuto kept his team close, holding the Mustangs offense in check with a scoreless 4th inning. Sensing pressure from Mellieha, the Mustangs’ offense made sure that their lead was safe, scoring 7 runs in the 5th inning which included a 2-run homerun from outfielder Efrain Dejan and a grand slam from Jorge Acosta. In the final stages, Acosta flashed his glove with an impressive web gem at 3rd base and reliever Daniele Palumbo closed out the win for the Mustangs to force Game 5.