Mustangs split doubleheader with RV Columbia

JOPLIN, Mo. – After opening the 2024 season with a sweep Sunday afternoon in Joplin, Missouri, The Mustangs split a doubleheader with receiving votes Columbia (Mo.) Monday.

Morningside stole game one in walk-off fashion 2-1 and dropped the second game 5-3. 

The Mustangs and Cougars went four innings without a score to start the day. Cade Nolan had the start for Morningside, striking out eight over four and two-thirds innings. After a solo home run from Columbia, Logan Warkentin came in to pitch, recording the final seven outs with two strikeouts. And no runs allowed. 

The Mustangs had their chances throughout the game, threatening with runners in scoring position in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Ryan Kiolbassa singled and Luke Blackmon singled in the fourth. Kiolbassa was thrown out at home plate trying to give Morningside a run. Brian Garcia singled in the fifth inning, working his way to third before the inning ended.

Morningside got a runner to second in the sixth inning, but it was still 1-0 Columbia heading into the seventh.

After Warkentin pitched the top of the seventh without allowing a run, the Mustangs struck for a pair in the bottom half of the inning. Nick Grajeda singled to lead off the inning and Garcia moved Kaleb Bleil, running for Grajeda, on a sacrifice. Jacob O'Dell singled Bleil to third and the Mustangs were threatening with one out.

Eddie Brancato grounded out to the shortstop, but Bleil sprinted home and O'Dell made it to second safely. With the game tied at one and two outs on the board, Jayson Willers stepped up and singled to left, bringing O'Dell in to score and win the game.

The Mustangs totaled nine hits as a team, but Willers was the only player with multiple hits in the game. He and Brancato earned an RBI each. 

Both teams struck early in game two, as the Mustangs scored on a Jayson Willers double to make it 1-0 in the top of the first, but Columbia answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to make it 2-1 Cougars. Both teams scored again in the third inning, as a Giacomo Crosetti singled to drive in a run in the top half of the inning and Columbia doubled home a run in the bottom.

Crosetti recorded a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning to tie in the game at three, but the Cougars responded with two more in the bottom half of the inning to make it 5-3. The Mustangs had two runners on in the seventh, but were unable to drive runners home to drop their first game of the season.

O'Dell, Froehlich, and Garcia had two hits and Crosetti had one hit and two RBI. Brancato and Willers doubled. Aiden Bishop got the start for Morningside, striking out three over four and one-thirds innings. Chance Nolan recorded two outs to finish the fifth and Tiago Sanchez pitched the sixth for the Mustangs.

Morningside is back in action in Kansas City at the PBR Homefield Saturday and Sunday.