Mustangs provide plenty of spark in sweep of Comets

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Mustangs were able to hit Mercy One Field at Lewis and Clark Park for the first time this season, completing a doubleheader sweep of Mayville State Tuesday afternoon.

The Mustangs had to come from behind in game one, trailing 4-1 after three innings and again at 6-5 after five and a half innings before sealing the 10-7 victory with a five run sixth.

The Comets scored first in the top of the first with a solo home run. The Mustangs responded with a Giacomo Crosetti ground out that scored Aiden Bishop. Mayville State retook the lead with three runs in the top of the third to make it 4-1. 

The Mustangs chipped away in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring two on a Brian Garcia double to make it 4-3. The Mustangs evened the score in the bottom of the fifth. Eddie Brancato doubled to lead off the inning. He stole third and advanced home on a wild throw by the catcher to tie the game at four. Crosetti walked, then scored on a double from Ryan Kiolbassa to give Morningside its first lead at 5-4. 

Aiden Bishop singled home one run in the sixth, followed by a Crosetti single for two more RBI, giving the Mustangs an 8-6 advantage. Cade Nolan and Kiolbassa each drove in one more to make it 10-6. The Comets tallied a run in the seventh, but Mason Hymer recorded the final two outs and picked up the save.

Garcia, Kiolbassa, and Brancato had two hits apiece in game one. Kiolbassa and Garcia also drove in two runs each. Crosetti scored twice and had three RBI in the Mustang victory. Josh Pratt pitched five innings for Morningside. Logan Warkentin earned the win, striking out two in one and a third innings. 

The Mustangs scored in every inning but the fourth in a 14-4 game two win. The Mustangs scored three in the first on a Crosetti sacrifice fly and a Ryan Kiolbassa two-run single. They added an RBI-single from Brancato in the second. 

Morningside broke the game open in the third. Luke Blackmon singled home Kiolbassa for the inning's first run. Brancato recorded a two-run single and Jayson Willers singled home another run.  After not scoring in the fourth, Crosetti hit his second sacrifice fly of the game to make it 9-4, Mustangs. Morningside scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth. Garcia, Bishop, Brancato, and Crosetti recorded RBI-base hits and Willers drove in a run off an error. 

Morningside racked up 15 hits, led by Brancato's 4-for-4 game at the plate. Kiolbassa added three hits and Bishop, Willers, and Garcia tallied two hits apiece. Brancato also totaled four RBI in game two. Crosetti added three RBI. Bishop, Brancato, and Garcia scored three runs each. Tiago Sanchez earned the start, striking out four over two innings. Mason Rego picked up the win, pitching three innings and recording three strikeouts. Chance Nolan and Sam Hanson each pitched an inning of relief, striking out two batters each. 

The Mustangs start GPAC play Friday at Midland and then head to Dakota Wesleyan Sunday.