Power bats come through in sweep of Jimmies

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Morningside crushed four home runs and totaled nine extra base hits over two games to sweep Jamestown Sunday afternoon in Jamestown.

All four Morningside runs were scored on home runs in a 4-1 game one win. Eddie Brancato hit two long bombs and the Mustangs had six extra base hits in an 11-3 victory in game two.

The Jimmies scored the first run of the day on an RBI-groundout, but Kai Purdy-Burton was lights out from there. He struck out 11 over seven innings in a complete game victory. Purdy-Burton allowed just two hits and the one run.

Morningside evened the score at one with a solo home run by Jayson Willers in the fourth inning. The Mustangs took the lead for good with a three-run blast by Aiden Bishop. Ryan Kiolbassa added a double and finished with two hits. 

Game two was the Eddie Brancato show, but he had plenty of help. Brancato hit a solo homer in the first inning to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead, but the Jimmies took the 2-1 lead after three innings.

It was all Mustangs from there. Giacomo Crosetti scored on an error to tie the game, and Brancato laced a two-run double to make it 4-2 after four. Luke Blackmon singled in two more in the fifth and Brancato's second home run and third extra base hit of the game added two more in the seventh.

The Mustangs added three insurance runs in the ninth. Brian Garcia doubled in one, Willers singled in another, and Brancato scored his third run of the game on a wild pitch for the last run of the game.

Brancato finished 3-for-5 with two home runs, a double, five RBI, and three runs scored. Crosetti went 4-for-6 with a double in game two. Garcia, Willers, and Cade Nolan totaled two hits each. Garcia, Crosetti, and Jacob O'Dell scored twice and Kaleb Bleil added two runs scored as a courtesy runner for Willers. 

The Mustangs scored plenty to win, but they still got a strong start from Nolan on the mound. He went six and two-thirds, striking out seven in the win. Mason Hymer recorded four outs on the mound and Jost Pratt worked a shutout ninth inning.

The Mustangs await a Monday series between Jamestown and Concordia to know whether they will be in second place alone or whether Concordia will join them at 17-7 heading into the final weekend. The Mustangs notched their 30th win of the season for the third straight season, but have four more games to determine their seed in the GPAC Tournament. 

As things stand at the end of play Sunday, Doane is in first place in the conference at 19-5, followed by Morningside at 17-7 and Concordia at 15-7. Briar Cliff is one game behind the Mustangs at 16-8 in conference play. 

Morningside has four games with the Tigers, needing to win three to tie Doane, and a four-game sweep to surpass the Tigers. The Mustangs are at Doane Friday and Saturday.