Mustangs finish regular season with sweep over Lancers

YANKTON, S.D. — The Morningside University baseball team has faced its share of adversity this spring, and Friday's challenges against Mount Marty were no exception — but the Mustangs didn't flinch.

Morningside overcame early deficits in both games to knock off the Lancers 6-5 in Game 1, and 11-6 in the nightcap.

"We had guys step up in big spots, and our guys didn't panic," Mustangs head coach Adam Boeve said. "Our guys just play the game. They trust each other, they trust their skills, and they feel like they don't have to individually do it all themselves. To walk it off three times and then come back late, that was huge for us."

Morningside was the home team in both games, and gave up runs in the first inning during both contests. In Game 1, the Lancers scored thrice. Then, they jumped out to two runs in Game 2.

The Mustangs chipped away during both games.

In the first contest, Morningside tied the game at 3-3, thanks to two run-producing situations from Giacomo Crosetti, then Luke Blackmon's RBI single put the Mustangs even with the Lancers.

Mount Marty scored twice in the middle innings, before the Mustangs walked off their Yankton opponent for the third straight game. After a Michael Snyder home run in the fifth put the Mustangs within one, Jacob O'Dell tied the game with a solo shot of his own.

"The amount of sheer will to win that we have as a program has been tremendous this year," O'Dell said. "We've built a good culture over the last couple of years, and we're fired up going into the playoffs."

Blackmon had the game-winning hit that scored Crosetti, and after Crosetti crossed the plate, the Mustangs stormed out of the dugout to congratulate Blackmon on the game-winner.

After allowing those two early runs in Game 2, Morningside quickly took the lead by scoring thrice in the first inning. The big hit that inning was a two-run homer from Crosetti over the centerfield wall.

The Lancers scored four unanswered, but again, the Mustangs had trailed previously in all four games this series. They scored eight straight times in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings.

"It says a lot about our guys," Boeve said. "We've had different things come up. These guys just want to play ball and play together. We're playing guys in different opportunities. The roles change throughout the season and the guys do a great job of stepping what's in front of them."

Morningside scored once in the sixth thanks to a Woods double, and again once in the seventh off a Blackmon single.

Snyder, Ryan Kiolbassa, and Crosetti all drove in runs, while Jaxon Bunkers and Michael Delzell scored on wild pitches.

A key play in that eighth inning rally was a sacrifice bunt by Cade Nolan in only his fourth plate appearance this month.

"Cade hasn't been in the batter's box in weeks, and he's a key part of a pitching staff, but he can handle the bat really well," Boeve said.

Both pitching wins came in relief. In Game 1, Sam Hanson got the win, while Rhys Fairweather earned it in the nightcap. Kai Purdy-Burton and Tyler Lawrence were the starters in Friday's games.

With the series sweep this week, Morningside sits in second place in the GPAC heading into the final day of the regular season on Saturday. Should that hold true, the Mustangs will host pod No. 2 starting Wednesday.

"I'm extremely excited for what's to come," O'Dell said. "Being second is a huge step for us. We want to build on that year after year. I look forward to that./"