Mustangs fall to MidAmerica Nazarene 12-7

SHREVEPORT, La. — In the winners bracket of the Shreveport region of the NAIA Baseball Tournament Tuesday, Morningside fell 12-7 to MidAmerica Nazarene.

The Mustangs are still alive in the NAIA Tournament, and play at 11 a.m. Wednesday against the winner of LSU-Shreveport and McPherson in an elimination game.

MidAmerica Nazarene scored three in the first inning and two in the second to take a 5-0 lead. The Mustangs were able to scratch one across in the bottom of the second inning off a ground out by Carter Ades. 

The Pioneers responded with two runs in the top of the third inning, but the Mustangs put up three in the bottom half to cut into the lead. Alex Calabrese hit an RBI-single, followed by a Brian Garcia two-run single. The Pioneers led 7-4 after three. 

A solo home run for MidAmerica Nazarene made it 8-4, but a two-run blast from Jayson Willers made it a two-run game through four high scoring innings. 

Neither side scored in the fifth, but MidAmerica Nazarene put up a three-run sixth and Morningside responded with a run on a Cade Nolan RBI-groundout. The Pioneers weren't done, as they tacked on a run in the seventh to make it 12-7. Neither team did any damage in the final two innings of play.

Willers tallied two hits, including the home run, and two RBI for the Mustang offense. Calabrese added three hits, Kiolbassa two hits, and Garcia a base hit with two RBI.

On the mound, Wade Canaday earned the start. Jackson Stephen struck out four over three innings of relief. Josh Pratt, Logan Warkentin and Calabrese also pitched in the game.

The Mustangs look to keep their season alive Wednesday at 11 a.m. in Shreveport.