YANKTON, S.D. – The top half of Morningside Colleges line-up shown brightly in both halves of a Great Plains Athletic Conference twin bill Sunday, March 21.
Freshman outfielder Caleb Thomson (FR/Libertyville, Ill.) (Libertyville, Ill.), junior infielder Carter Kratz (JR/Vermillion, SD) (Vermillion, S.D.), freshman outfielder Hunter Hope (FR/Sioux City, Iowa) (Sioux City, Iowa), and senior infielder Jordan Pierce (SR/Carlisle, Iowa) (Carlisle, Iowa) each collected a hit and at least one run-batted-in during the opener. Their combined output fueled a pair of three-run rallies in the fifth and sixth innings to send the Mustangs to a series-clinching 8-6 win in game one at Mount Marty Universitys Bob Tereshinski Stadium at Riverside Park.
In the nightcap, with head coach Adam Boeves team seeking a four-game sweep of the Lancers, the Mustangs appeared on the verge with a 5-4 edge going into the home half of the eighth before MMU posted four runs to salvage an 8-5 decision. Kratz, Hope, and Pierce came back again with at least one hit, and Pierce drove in a run. Junior outfielder Levi Davidson (JR/Dakota City, Neb.) (Dakota City, Neb.) and freshman infielder Wade Canaday (FR/Marshalltown, Iowa) (Marshalltown, Iowa) also collected two RBI each, as Davidson wrapped up an impressive three-for-eight, one-run-scored, two-RBI afternoon.
Mside pitching continued its recent progressions, too. Despite a rough game two defeat, junior Billy Mount (JR/Burbank, SD) (Burbank. S.D.) crafted a six-strikeout effort over seven and a third. Canaday and junior bullpen ace Jordan Kyle (JR/Lake Park, Iowa) (Lake Park, Iowa) kept the home team away from picking up a Sunday sweep with a combined four strikeouts in game one.
The Maroon (11-15 overall, 3-1 GPAC) looks to continue a recent stretch where theyve won seven of their last 10 when they travel to Northwestern College for a Friday, March 26, loop doubleheader. Game time is 5 p.m. at NWC diamond in Orange City, Iowa.
