Upset-bid falls short for Mustangs at Webber International

BABSON PARK, Fla. – Morningside spotted No. 12 Webber International a 3-0 lead early, but the Mustangs rallied to tie the game at three before falling to the Warriors 4-3 Friday afternoon in Babson Park, Florida.

In Morningside's final game of its 2024 spring break trip to Florida, the Mustangs fell behind 3-0 after two innings of play. Both pitchers settled in after that as both teams went scoreless in the third, fourth, and fifth innings.

The Mustangs picked up their first run of the afternoon in the top of the sixth when Jayson Willers singled in Jacob O'Dell. A Brian Garcia double in the top of the seventh scored Kaleb Bleil and chased the Warriors' starting pitcher from the game. Eddie Brancato followed Garcia's double up with an extra base hit of his own, a triple, to score Garcia. The Warriors were able to respond in the bottom of the inning with a sacrifice fly to take the 4-3 advantage.

Garcia singled in the top of the ninth to put a runner on for the Mustangs with one out, but the second comeback wasn't in the cards, as Webber International put the next two batters out to take the victory.

Garcia was the lone Mustang with multiple hits on the day, recording three of them in four at-bats. Brancato and Willers had a base hit and an RBI. Aiden Bishop pitched the first four innings, striking out four. Cade Nolan finished the game on the mound, striking out four over four innings, taking the loss. 

Morningside returns home and is set to host its home opener against Mayville State Tuesday. The Mustangs and Comets take the field for a 1 p.m. first pitch of the doubleheader.