Mustang sluggers shine in doubleheader sweep at Midland

FREMONT, Neb. – After not pushing a run across in Friday's GPAC doubleheader at Dakota Wesleyan, the Mustangs were on fire at the plate, totaling 27 runs in a sweep of Midland Saturday.

Eddie Brancato doubled home Gunnar Kale to get the offense going in the first. After Midland tied the game in the second, the Mustangs exploded four five in the third and three more in the fourth to put the game out of reach.

Giacomo Crosetti doubled home three in the third, followed by a Luke Blackmon RBI-double and a Jayson Willers RBI-single capped off the five run inning. Cade Nolan hit his first of two home runs in the game in the fourth, bringing in two runs. Ryan Kiolbassa doubled home another run to finish the fourth with a 9-1 lead. Midland scored one in the fifth and Nolan responded with a solo shot to center field in the sixth. 

Kai Purdy-Burton picked up the win on the mound, pitching five and two-thirds, striking out four. Josh Pratt recorded the final four outs without allowing a run. At the plate, Nolan went 3-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored. Crosetti and Brancato had two hits each and Crosetti drove in three runs.

Morningside torched the ball in route to 17 runs in game two to complete the sweep of the Warriors, 17-11. There were five lead changes in the marathon, with the first coming in the second inning. After Midland took the 1-0 lead in the first, Morningside scored two in the second, one on a Blackmon RBI-groundout, and the other on a Willers double.

Midland took the lead back in the bottom of the second by scoring four runs, all on home runs. Eddie Brancato singled in a run in the top of the third. Conner Maston scored on a wild pitch, and Blackmon doubled in two more runners to give Morningside the lead. Willers singled home Blackmon to cap off the inning. 

Midland didn't go away easily, scoring five more in the third and one more in the sixth. The lone Morningside run in the middle innings came from a Kale single to score Maston. Needing a spark, the Mustangs found one in the bat of Brancato, who homered to bring the Mustangs within two in the seventh. Kiolbassa scored on a wild pitch and Brian Garcia singled home Crosetti to tie the game after seven innings. 

Crosetti broke the tie in the top of the eighth with a two-run double. He came around to score on a Blackmon home run. For good measure, the Mustangs added one more in the top of the eighth when Maston scored on a wild pitch. Crosetti continued his strong day at the plate with a double to score Cade Nolan in the ninth. 

Brancato went 4-for-5 with four runs scored and two RBI in game two. Kiolbassa and Willers added three base hits each. Blackmon racked up five RBI on two base hits, a double and a home run. Crosetti added two hits, both doubles, and two RBI. On the mound, Logan Warkentin earned the win. He pitched three and a third innings without allowing a run, striking out three. 

The Mustangs head to Bellevue for a single game Tuesday at 1 p.m.