Master’s Relies on Production at the Top, 10-1

LEWISTON, Idaho —  For The Master’s College, it was as simple as 1-2-3.

Kurt Fillmore, Chris Kollmann and Andy Salazar--the top of the Mustangs’ batting order--each had three hits and three runs batted in Tuesday to power a 10-1 victory over Shawnee State (Ohio) in an elimination game of the NAIA World Series at Lewis-Clark State.

Pitcher Josh Higgins (14-4) did the rest, scattering nine hits in a complete game to earn his second victory of the World Series. He struck out four and walked two.

Master’s (37-14), which assured itself of finishing no worse than fourth in the tournament, is scheduled to play again today.

Higgins was supported by a 13-hit attack.

Fillmore, the leadoff hitter, was the Mustangs’ catalyst. He singled and scored the game’s first run in the third inning, he doubled to start a three-run fifth, and he capped the scoring with a three-run double in the seventh.

Kollmann gave Master’s a 2-0 lead in the third with a home run to left field, his third of the season. He added an RBI single in the fifth and singled and scored on a home run by Salazar, his fifth, in the sixth. Salazar singled in a run in the fifth.

Michael Wertz, who bats fourth, and Luke Kollmann each had two hits for the Mustangs.

The loss snapped a 12-game winning streak for Shawnee State pitcher Jason Burcham (12-2), who allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings.

The Bears finished 48-16.