Windy walkoff highlights BCU series

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Morningside started day two of play against Briar Cliff with a game that had all the makings of an instant classic, heading into the ninth inning with a six-run deficit.

The Mustangs had just given up four runs in the top of the seventh, seemingly putting the game out of reach. Leadoff walks for Giacomo Crosetti and Luke Blackmon were followed by Jacob O'Dell reaching on an error, loading the bases.

Brian Garcia stepped to the plate, where he drove a single into right field, scoring Crosetti. In the next at bat, Eddie Brancato drove a fly ball well beyond the left field wall, cutting Briar Cliff's lead to just one. The blast was Brancato's second home run of the day.

The Chargers recorded a pair of outs, before Aiden Bishop walked and Luke Froelich was hit by a pitch to put the game-winning run on first. 

Crosetti, who led off the inning and was the first run scored, then stepped to the plate, staying calm as he represented the final out or a chance to keep the game going. It was on a 3-2 count with the runners going that the junior got a pitch that he liked and was able to drive it high off the left field wall, easily scoring Bishop, with Froelich sliding into home ahead of a tag as the winning run.

The Mustangs hoped to recreate some of that MercyOne Field magic in the series finale but came up short, stranding a pair of runners in the bottom of the ninth to end game two.

Brancato added a double and two home runs to his season totals on the day, moving the career doubles record to 57, while Trent Lawrence added a home run in game two. Brian Garcia, Brancato, Jayson Willers, Bishop, Froelich, Crosetti, and Lawrence all had RBIs in the doubleheader. 

Morningside continues to play at home next Saturday, playing a four game series with Concordia on April 13 and 14.