The 2025 National Baseball League season began in thrilling fashion on Sunday as the Mellieha Northenders hosted the Mustangs in a high-energy matchup filled with explosive hitting, sharp defense, and standout pitching performances from both teams.
The action kicked off immediately when Mustangs’ catcher Andres Susarra led off with a single, paving the way for Jorge Acosta to smash a two-run homer in his first at-bat, giving the Mustangs an early lead. However, Mellieha responded swiftly, scoring two runs in the bottom half of the inning to level the score.
In the second inning, Gabriel Di Sabatino blasted a solo home run to break the tie, followed by a double from Acosta and an RBI single from Efrain Dejan, putting the Mustangs ahead 4-2. Mellieha kept the game close by adding another run in the bottom of the inning, cutting the deficit to 4-3.
The Mustangs continued their offensive onslaught in the third inning. After Susarra was retired, Di Sabatino hit a double, and Acosta followed with a single, setting up Dejan for a two-run double that extended the lead to 6-3. Mustangs’ pitcher Henry Wang then delivered a quick 10-pitch bottom of the third, shutting down Mellieha’s bats.
The fourth inning saw the Mustangs widen the gap further, as Acosta doubled again, Dejan added a single, and Daniele Palumbo contributed a run-scoring double in a four-run inning that made it 10-3. Despite the scoreline, Mellieha’s starting pitcher Mattheus Konno settled down, finishing his outing with an efficient eight-pitch inning. Reliever Cesar Hernandez stepped in with a strong performance for Mellieha, including a highlight-reel defensive play from third baseman Matt Borg.
Jorge Acosta capped off a phenomenal night in the seventh inning, completing the rare cycle with an RBI triple, further solidifying the Mustangs’ dominance. The Northenders attempted a late rally, with Michael Bartolo launching a solo home run in the seventh, but the Mustangs’ strong pitching trio of Wang, Michael Pitzschel, and Acosta ensured the lead remained intact, securing their first victory of the season.
The Mustangs will look to build on their momentum when they face Mellieha again on Sunday, March 23rd, at the Marsa Baseball and Softball Field, as the Northenders aim to bounce back and even the series.
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