Morningside slips in standings with split

SIOUX CENTER, IOWA – Morningside saw just how important every game is going to be as the baseball season draws to a close, as the Mustangs, courtesy of a split to Dordt, went from leading the Great Plains Athletic Conference to sitting in a three-way tie for second. After a comeback attempt to the Defenders came up short, 10-7, the Mustangs dropped the hammer in a 10-0 win in game two.

Morningside's game one comeback attempt started as the Mustangs loaded the bases and Alex Calabrese drew a walk to bring in Nick Grajeda, now trailing 10-4. 

Brian Garcia stepped to the plate with no outs, where he dumped a single into left, driving in Elijah Rude, who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning. 

Ryan Kiolbassa, another recipient of a walk, was driven in by a Carter Ades line drive to right, closing the gap to 10-6 with one out before Hunter Hope moved Calabrese over to third with a fly ball to center field. 

With two outs, Eddie Brancato was next at bat, sending a single to left center field, scoring Calabrese while Garcia ran first-to-third. The Defenders brought in their third different pitcher of the inning, who was able to get the final out and neutralize Morningside's threat.

Brancato and Kiolbassa were the only Mustangs to have multi-hit games in the day's opener, with Hope leading the RBI race, with two. Brancato, Kiolbassa, Calabrese, Garcia, and Ades all had an RBI each. 

Josh Thurman and Jackson Stephen had solid outings in relief of Aiden Bishop, who took the brunt of Dordt's abuse. Stephen had a scoreless inning with three strikeouts, while Thurman threw 1.1, allowing a run on three hits.

Morningside picked up the momentum it had found to close the day's opener in the nightcap, backing starter Cade Nolan with seven runs in his four-inning outing. Nolan held Dordt scoreless, striking out seven and allowing just two hits before handing the ball to Josh Pratt for two scoreless innings. Joe Harris got an inning of work, throwing a clean frame to end the game.

The Mustangs totaled 17 hits in game two, led by a four-hit game for Jayson Willers. Hope and Bishop each had three hits, and Grajeda, Calabrese, and Garcia had two apiece. Willers had a two-run home run in the first inning and a double, driving in four runs by the game's end. Bishop had Morningside's remaining extra base hit, a double in the third, coming around to score in the inning.

Hope had a pair of RBIs, while Grajeda, Calabrese, and Garcia each had one.

Morningside continues a busy week, playing Midland in a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Sioux City, before playing its final home doubleheader on Sunday at 1 p.m.