Game two comeback keeps Morningside among GPAC's top six

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – A set of three successive hits during a key seventh-inning rally lifted Morningside College to a Saturday split on April 24.

Head coach Adam Boeve's squad, rebounding from a 5-1 game loss to visiting the University of Jamestown at Lewis and Clark Park's Mercy Field, trailed the Jimmies 4-2 after five and a half innings. The Mustangs tallied one in the sixth and then opened the floodgates in the seventh behind run-scoring singles from junior catcher Braden Smutz (JR/Lake Stevens, Wash.) (Lake Stevens, Wash.) and freshman infielder Aiden Bishop (FR/Lincoln, Neb.) (Lincoln, Neb.) and a two-run rocket off the bat of freshman infielder Eddie Brancato (FR/Arlington Heights, Ill.) (Arlington Heights, Ill.) that wound up a double.

Bishop's nightcap resume didn't end there. He was one of three to tally two-hit games joining sophomore outfielder Michael Boomgarden (SO/Yuba City, Calif.) (Yuba City, Calif.) and freshman catcher Gunnar Kale (FR/Merced, Calif.) (Merced, Calif.).

The rally benefitted a five-person mound staff that locked down the 8-4 victory. Juniors Billy Mount (JR/Burbank, SD) (Burbank, S.D.), Camden Parks (JR/Omaha, Neb.) (Omaha, Neb.), and Jordan Kyle (JR/Lake Park, Iowa) (Lake Park, Iowa) teamed up with freshmen Max Nickerson (FR/Blair, Neb.) (Blair, Neb.) and Quinton Holman (Nebraska City, Neb.) to fan 15 visiting hitters while surrendering only four runs on four hits.

Boeve's staff was just as impressive in game one despite the defeat. Freshman southpaw slung 13 strikeouts at the Jimmies, the most in a game since the 2019 season. As part of a four-hit day, Bishop was the offensive star with a double, triple, and run batted-in.

Morningside (21-26 overall, 12-10 GPAC) looks to climb up the conference standings Monday, April 26. They face off against league-leading Concordia University at CU's Plum Creek Park in a doubleheader that begins at 4 p.m.