Mustangs power past Buena Vista

STORM LAKE, IOWA – In a non-conference battle that featured 16 runs and 18 hits, Morningside University used an early-innings rally to pick up a road victory Wednesday, March 16.

The Mustangs, improving to 12-2, put up seven runs over the fourth and fifth frames at Storm Lake High School field to brush aside an early 1-0 lead for home-standing Buena Vista University. The Beavers cut the deficit to 7-5 with a mid-game answer but couldn't surpass head coach Adam Boeve's bullpen.

Sophomore Josh Pratt (LeMars, Iowa), senior Jordan Kyle (Lake Park, Iowa), and sophomore Zak Scott (Mapleton, Iowa) shut the door on their hosts over the final four innings. The trio surrendered only one hit and struck out five in the span. 

Junior catcher Jayson Willers (Council Bluffs, Iowa) helped spark the offense. He totaled two hits and drove in two. Senior infielder Carter Kratz (Vermillion, S.D.), sophomore infielder Eddie Brancato (Arlington Heights, Ill.), senior outfielder Braden Smutz (Lake Stevens, Wash.), and sophomore pitcher/infielder Aiden Bishop (Lincoln, Neb.) also added two-hit evenings.

The Mustangs open their 2022 Great Plains Athletic Conference season Saturday and Sunday, March 19 and 20, facing off against crosstown rival Briar Cliff University. Game times are noon Saturday at BCU's Bishop Mueller Field and 1 p.m. Sunday at Lewis and Clark Park's Mercy One Field.