Mustangs split day two, win series over Mount Marty

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Morningside ensured that it would not drop back behind Mount Marty due to head-to-head play, picking up a come-from-behind win in game two of today's baseball doubleheader, 3-2. The Mustangs dropped the day's opener 5-4.

Cade Nolan took the mound in the day's second game, giving up two runs in the complete game win as he struck out five. 

The Mustangs rallied in the bottom of the fifth behind Nolan, as Aiden Bishop dumped a single into center field, moving to third on an Alex Calabrese double, and scoring as Mount Marty tried to make the play at the plate, allowing Brian Garcia on the basepaths. Hunter Hope stepped to the plate and drove a fly ball to right field, scoring Calabrese to tie the game.

Nolan followed the fifth with another zero, giving Morningside a chance to answer. Jayson Willers punched a single into left field, representing the go-ahead run. Zach Hefty went to first as a courtesy runner, moving over as Nick Grajeda launched a single to right. A Ryan Kiolbassa bunt moved the runners up 90 feet, allowing Hefty to score on an error in Bishop's at bat before the inning ended.

The top of the seventh, like five innings before it, ended with a zero for the Lancers, as a line out to Hope, a strikeout, and a popout to Elijah Rude sealed the game for Morningside.

Grajeda and Willers each had a pair of hits in the contest, with Hope and Garcia receiving credit for batting in runs. Calabrese's double was the only Mustang extra base hit in the contest.

Calabrese had the hot bat in the day's first contest, totaling two hits on the day. Hunter Jenkins had a hit for a pair of RBIs, while Hope and Eddie Brancato each had a single RBI.

Josh Thurman was impressive on the mound, striking out seven and allowing no runs in 3.1 innings of relief. Bishop had three strikeouts in the loss.

Morningside now has six games on the road, starting with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Northwestern on Thursday.