O'Dell's three homers help Mustangs complete weekend sweep

FREMONT, Neb. — The Morningside baseball team powered its way to a sweep of Midland on Sunday, launching nine home runs in a dominant GPAC doubleheader.

The Mustangs (22-11, 10-2 GPAC) hit three home runs in a 9-0 win in Game 1, then followed with six more in an 18-1 victory in Game 2.

In the opener, Morningside struck early. Jacob O'Dell delivered the biggest swing of the game with a three-run homer in the first inning, while Romani Perez and Michael Snyder each added solo shots. Hayden Hixon and Michael Delzell contributed with RBI doubles as the Mustangs steadily built their lead.

On the mound, Conner Maston and Reid Nagel combined for the shutout. Maston went six innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out four on 79 pitches. Nagel closed the door in the seventh, working around a hit and a walk with one strikeout.

Game 2 turned into an offensive avalanche.

Morningside broke things open with seven runs in both the second and third innings. In the second, the Mustangs collected five hits and capitalized on a Midland error, highlighted by a two-run home run from O'Dell.

The third inning brought even more damage, as Morningside piled up eight hits. O'Dell and Kade Yasui each hit solo home runs, and Maston added a three-run blast to left field to extend the lead.

The power surge continued in the fifth inning, when Luke Blackmon and Kentaro Felton both went deep to cap the scoring.

Cade Nolan earned his fourth win of the season, holding Midland to two hits over five innings. He struck out nine and walked one. Mason Rego and Zach Neer followed with hitless appearances in the final two innings, with Neer needing just 10 pitches to finish the game.

Through the four-game series, Morningside outscored Midland 52-9. It hit .435 with 46 RBIs, and 13 home runs. Nineteen lead-off men reached base, and had 12 two-out hits. 

On the mound, Morningside amassed a 2.70 ERA this weekend, and allowed five two-out hits. The Mustangs also held Midland hitters to a 3-for-25 clip Sunday with runners on base. 

Morningside remains on the road Easter weekend with a four-game series at Waldorf.