Key plays help Mustangs claim sweep over Warriors

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Two late high-risk plays on Saturday turned into high reward for the Morningside baseball team.

With the game tied at 5-5 in Game 2, the Mustangs scored twice in the bottom of the seventh on aggressive baserunning to secure a 7-5 win over Midland and complete the doubleheader sweep.

Morningside also took Game 1 in dominant fashion, 18-3.

"Guys just trusted who they were and they stayed locked in," head coach Adam Boeve said. "It was a complete team effort today. Different guys played different roles."

Romani Perez sparked the rally in Game 2 with a leadoff double, regaining momentum after Midland erased an earlier deficit. Boeve inserted pinch runner Dylan Conahan, and the freshman delivered.

After advancing to third, Conahan broke for home on a passed ball and won a bang-bang play at the plate to give the Mustangs a 6-5 lead.

"That was a great read by Conahan to see the dirt ball," Boeve said. "We responded well."

Later in the inning, Kade Yasui — who finished with six hits in the doubleheader — added insurance. With a hit-and-run on, Jacob O'Dell laced a ball into the right-center gap, allowing Yasui to score easily.

"That was a huge opportunity right there," O'Dell said. "I love that call by (Boeve). We like to play the game as hard as we can, and we need to make those gutsy plays to win games."

Sam Hanson closed the door over the final two innings to secure the win.

Earlier in the day, Morningside's offense set the tone. The Mustangs scored in five innings and broke the game open with a seven-run fifth, finishing with 18 hits.

Michael Delzell led the way with three hits and three RBIs, while Connor Woods and Conner Maston each drove in three runs. Yasui added four hits in the opener as eight Mustangs recorded at least one hit.

"We came out swinging in Game 1, and that's a heck of a day for us at the dish," O'Dell said. "For us to stay in there and be resilient, that's what we're all about."

Tiago Sanchez earned the Game 1 win, allowing one run over six innings while striking out six, as the Mustangs rolled to one of their most complete performances of the season.