Mustang baseball season comes to a close

Mustang Kyle Morgan (7) attempts to retreat to third base in last Tuesday’s home game against Groesbeck and was eventually tagged out as a result of trying to make it home. The Mustangs lost by an 11-2 final to the Goats. Dave Lewis/Madisonville Meteor.

Madisonville's Mustangs wrapped up their 2008 baseball season on the road in Fairfield Tuesday, but they'll miss the playoffs for the first time in two years despite splitting last week's games with Groesbeck and Mexia.

Coach James O'Neal's crew would have had to win their three remaining games, then depend on Westwood to win to have a chance at the playoffs.

The Mustangs began their week with an 11-2 home loss to Groesbeck April 15, then bounced back to knock off Mexia on the road, 8-4.

Madisonville fell behind 6-0 after four innings against Groesbeck, then rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 6-2 game. The Goats, however, plated five more runs in the sixth inning, and the Mustangs failed to score the rest of the way.

Kyle Morgan and J.D. Standley went 2-for-3 with Morgan driving in a run. Jacob Conetto was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Going 1-for-2 were Mike Nava, Willie Measles and Will Mathis. Nelson walked twice, and Measles, Nava, Morgan and Steven McKenzie (1-for-3) also drew walks.

McKenzie took the loss, pitching five frames and giving up 7 hits and 3 earned runs, striking out five hitters. Nelson came on in the sixth and gave up 3 runs on 3 hits and a pair of walks and two strikeouts. The Mustangs made 4 errors in the field.

The 'Stangs got back in the win column for just the sixth time this year with the road win over Mexia.

Nelson got the complete game win, giving up 4 earned runs on 4 hits with 3 walks and 6 strikeouts.

Ryan Miller took the loss for Mexia after Matthew Johnson and Jace Lloyd threw 3 innings apiece.

Madisonville got out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning, then added four more in the fourth.

Mexia scored three times in the third and once more in the fourth.

Nelson went 2-for-4 with a double and drove in three runs to lead Madisonville.

McKenzie also drove in 3 runs with a 2-for-4 day at the plate. Nava went 2-for-4 and drove in a run, and Morgan was 2-for-3 with an RBI. John Guys went 1-for-4 and scored a run.

With Tuesday's final game at Fairfield, the Mustangs entered the week with a 6-15 overall record and a 3-6 District 19-3A mark.