Arizona finale goes the way of the Mustangs

TUCSON, ARIZ. – Morningside Baseball wrapped up its spring break trip with the second half of a two game schedule with Ottawa University-Arizona. With an opponent that the Mustangs had seen three days prior across the diamond, Morningside produced a scaled back version of the earlier contest, which was won 18-7, handily winning 9-2.

Kai Purdy-Burton threw a gem in the finale, giving up one hit and three walks for one unearned run, striking out five. Cade Nolan threw three scoreless innings, walking two and striking out four. Josh Pratt closed out the contest in a non-save situation, giving up three hits and a run while striking out one in the final inning.

Hunter Hope, Eddie Brancato, and Brian Garcia each knocked in two runs with Garcia tattooing a triple as part of a two hit game, coming around to score once. Hope had a two-hit game, while Brancato had one hit and a walk in five appearances. Alex Calabrese had the final RBI in a three-hit game, including a double.

Nick Grajeda, Elijah Rude, and Aiden Bishop all also had two-hit games, with Rude adding a double to the book for the Mustangs, coming around to score twice. Bishop scored three times in the contest.

Morningside returns home following the contest, having gone 6-4 on the week. The Mustangs are scheduled to open MercyOne Field for 2023 on Tuesday at 1 p.m. hosting a doubleheader against Mayville State.