Stangs sweep opening GPAC series

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – While a true home opener continues to elude the Mustangs, Morningside Baseball continues to move closer while continuing to improve its record, now sitting at 15-5 and 2-0 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, following a series sweep, 7-2, 10-7, of Jamestown today at Briar Cliff University's Sisters of St. Francis Field.

The Mustangs wasted no time getting on the board, getting a run across in the bottom of the first inning as Zach Hefty, on base as a courtesy runner for Jayson Willers, stole second to get into scoring position, when Nick Grajeda dumped a single into left field to allow Hefty to cross.

Morningside tacked on another pair in the third inning, as Eddie Brancato rocketed a ball over the left field wall, scoring Hunter Hope, who had walked to start the inning. 

Aiden Bishop singled in the fourth, stealing second on an Alex Calabrese plate appearance and scoring on a Brian Garcia single to right field. The inning got worse for the Jimmies as Hope sent another ball over the left field wall, pushing two more runs across.

The Mustangs manufactured another run in the bottom of the fifth, as Hefty ran first-to-third on a Grajeda single, scoring on a double play ball.

Brancato and Hope each had a pair of RBIs in the day's opener, with Grajeda and Garcia each driving in a single run. Grajeda tallied three hits in three at bats. Willers had a walk and was hit by a pitch, and Hope had a hit and a walk in four appearances, scoring twice.

Wade Canaday added another win to his record for the season, now 4-1 in six starts. He threw five scoreless innings, giving up three hits and striking out three. Josh Thurman had three strikeouts in two innings, surrendering the Jimmies' two runs.

Morningside's offense continued to fire in game two, as Hope and Willers opened the game with doubles. Grajeda moved Hefty over and Ryan Kiolbassa singled to right to drive in the inning's second run. 

Jamestown answered right away, dumping a home run over the left field wall with a runner on. The Mustangs weren't done, though, as Garcia singled again, moving to second with Hunter Jenkins walking behind him. Both runners advanced on a passed ball and Hope drove a ball deep enough into center to score Garcia, tagging up on the play. A single for Willers following a Brancato walk scored Jenkins.

Bishop faced four batters in the top of the third, throwing a scoreless inning before Morningside kept the hammer down on offense. Kiolbassa deposited a single into right field to start the inning before Calabrese sent the left fielder scurrying to the wall, watching as the ball sailed over to bring a pair of Mustangs across. Brian Garcia primed the offense again, knocking a double into center field before stealing third and scoring on a throwing error.

Morningside countered a four-run fourth for Jamestown with a leadoff home run by Willers, taking the edge off the first half of the inning. 

The Jimmies would get another run in the top of the sixth on a leadoff homer, but a Brancato double set the table again for Willers. Brancato moved over to third on a passed ball, trotting the remaining 90 feet on another home run for Willers. 

Willers' four hits in four trips led the Mustangs, totaling five RBIs as he came around to score on his pair of homers. Calabrese joined Willers in the multi-RBI category, knocking in two runs on the strength of his home run. Kiolbassa and Garcia both had two-hit games as Hope, Brancato, Willers, Garcia, and Jenkins all hit doubles. 

Josh Pratt threw two innings in relief with two strikeouts, giving up two runs and securing a win. Logan Warkentin threw one scoreless inning and Calabrese slammed the door in a four pitch, three batter inning to collect his fourth save.

Morningside's next outing is a four-game series with Doane, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at MercyOne Field at Lewis and Clark Park, with each day getting underway at 1 p.m.