Mustangs split rivalry series at Briar Cliff

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – A four game series at Briar Cliff University represents Morningside's final games in Sioux City this season if the current Great Plains Athletic Conference standings hold true for another week, with every game proving to be crucial for the Mustangs. BCU proved that it wasn't going to end the season without a fight, winning six of its previous 10 games after a slow start to the season, and adding a 3-2 walkoff in the series opener. Morningside took the nightcap, winning an abbreviated contest 14-0.

The Mustang bats exploded in the top of the fifth in game two, as Ryan Kiolbassa coaxed a walk to start the inning. An Alex Calabrese double scored Kiolbassa, adding a run to Calabrese' solo home run in the second inning. Calabrese moved to third on a passed ball, allowing an Aiden Bishop single to score him. 

Brian Garcia followed Bishop's example, punching a single through the left side, to put runners on first and second when a wild pitch moved both runners up 90 feet. Carter Ades looked like he might add to the team's totals as he laced a line drive to the right side, when the second baseman pulled it in for the inning's first out.

Following the out, Eddie Brancato drove a shot over the left field wall, scoring Garcia and Bishop, chasing BCU's starter from the game.

Jayson Willers punched a single through the left side of the infield to restart Morningside's offense with the new pitcher, getting the speedy Zach Hefty on the basepaths. Hefty quickly ran from first-to-third on an Elijah Rude single into center field, putting him in prime position to score on a Nick Grajeda groundout as Rude advanced to second. 

With a runner on second, Kiolbassa stepped to the plate for the second time in the inning, launching a homer down the left field line for a pair of runs. 

Calabrese restarted things as he laced a single to center, taking third on a throwing error. Bishop fired a single back up the middle, scoring Calabrese, before the Chargers finally recorded the final out after facing 13 batters in the inning.

Morningside would add a run in the sixth as a pair of singles, a fielder's choice, and a wild pitch scored Brancato. It added three more in the seventh as Kiolbassa was hit by a pitch to leadoff the inning. Calabrese singled to left, advancing Kiolbassa to third. A Bishop double scored Kiolbassa, advancing Calabrese to third, when a Garcia single would score both runners. 

Calabrese had a four-hit game two, driving in a pair of RBIs. Bishop had three hits and three RBIs, and Brancato had the three-run homer. Willers, Garcia, and Ades all had two-hits in the contest. Hefty swiped a bag while on the basepaths.

Kai Purdy-Burton threw six scoreless innings, striking out six and scattering five hits. Joe Harris threw one scoreless inning, breaking up two hits with a strikeout.

Wade Canaday made a solid return to the mound in the day's opener, throwing 6.1 innings and giving up two runs, striking out five while allowing seven hits. 

Brancato had the hot bat in game one, connecting for three hits including a single. Grajeda was the only other Mustang with a two-hit game, while Calabrese had the only RBI.

Morningside wraps the four-game series tomorrow beginning at 1 p.m. at BCU, before ending the regular season in a Friday-Saturday four-game series at Concordia.