For the first time in tournament play this season, the William S. Hart PONY League Mustang 10U All-Stars have lost.

In their opening game of the Mustang World Series in Irving, Texas, Hart Mustang lost 5-4 to Joliet, Ill.

“We’ve relied on defense and pitching for most of our season,” said Hart Mustang head coach Jerry Miller. “This is actually the first time both let us down.”

Hart Mustang led 4-0 going into the fourth inning, but walks and errors allowed Joliet to tie the game.

Joliet loaded the based with no outs in the top of the sixth inning, but Hart Mustang held it to just one run.

Joliet then retired Hart Mustang in order in the bottom of the sixth to close out the game.

Hart Mustang is now 32-2. It lost a non-sanctioned game earlier in the season.

Hart Mustang players Noah Cardenas and Caden Miller each went 2-for-3, while J.T. Shroud contributed an RBI.

The loss does not mean the end of Hart Mustang’s season. The first three games of the tournament are pool play, so the local team controls its own destiny.

Hart Mustang plays Keller, Texas tonight at 8:30 p.m. Central time.

“You don’t ever want to lose coming out of the gate,” Miller said. “You want to get a little confidence. Now we’ll see what kind of character we have.”