Mustangs drop pair at Benedictine-Mesa

MESA, ARIZ. – Morningside Baseball continued to work through its spring break schedule in Arizona, traveling to Mesa to play a double header against Benedictine at Gene Autry Sports Complex. The Redhawks swept the day, winning game one 7-6 before walking off the nightcap, 6-5.

In game one, Morningside answered a Benedictine three-run first inning with one of its own in the top of the second. The Mustangs briefly took the lead after a two-run fourth, but the Redhawks answered in the fifth and took the lead for good in the sixth.

Will Brandner got the start for the Mustangs, throwing 4.1 innings while giving up seven hits and five earned runs. Logan Warkentin threw the last 1.2 innings, allowing three hits, two runs, striking out one.

Eddie Brancato had three RBIs in his two-hit first game, knocking a triple in the contest. Alex Calabrese had a home run and a double, notching an RBI, Aiden Bishop had a pair of extra base hits. Jayson Willers and Hunter Hope also had RBIs in the first game.

In the Mesa finale, Zak Scott threw 4.1 innings, giving up five hits and a run, coming in in the second inning. Scott had a strike out in the outing and walked one. Jackson Stephen followed Scott, giving up a hit for an earned run in one third of an inning.

Hope led Morningside's offense, with two RBIs off of three hits, including a double. Ryan Kiolbassa had a triple, knocking in a run, and Nick Grajeda and Bishop each had an RBI on two hits each. Willers added a double in the second contest.

The Mustangs are back on the diamond for one last game against Ottawa University of Arizona tomorrow, playing back in Tucson.