'Never say die' mentality sparks 12-run rally
The Mustangs (26-11, 14-2 GPAC) scored 14 runs in both contests, winning 14-5 in Game 1 and 14-3 in the nightcap to extend their win streak to nine.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 14 | 12 | 2 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 1 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 18 | 2 |
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1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
FOREST CITY, Iowa — Down three runs in the seventh inning Tuesday, the Morningside baseball team responded with 12 consecutive runs to complete a four-game GPAC sweep of Waldorf on the road.
The Mustangs (26-11, 14-2 GPAC) scored 14 runs in both contests, winning 14-5 in Game 1 and 14-3 in the nightcap to extend their win streak to nine.
"Our guys came in with the 'never say die' mentality," said head coach Adam Boeve. "Our goal in the seventh inning was to bring the tying run to the plate. We found a way to do that, and I'm really proud of the way they raised the competition level."
In Game 1, Morningside erased a 5-2 deficit in the seventh without recording a hit. Michael Snyder, Kade Yasui, and Jacob O'Dell each drove in runs to tie the game at 5-5.
The Mustangs took the lead for good in the eighth when Mason King scored on a fielding error, sparking a nine-run inning. Jaxon Bunkers delivered a two-run single off the bench, while O'Dell and Connor Woods each forced in runs with bases-loaded walks. King later capped the inning with a grand slam to extend the lead to 14-5.
"We rallied around each other and picked each other up when someone made a mistake," Boeve said. "That was definitely a highlight of the season."
King finished with four RBIs, while O'Dell and Romani Perez each drove in two. Zach Neer earned the win in relief, tossing two innings, while Conner Maston struck out seven over five innings in the start.
Game 2 carried that momentum immediately.
The Mustangs scored seven runs in the first inning behind six hits, highlighted by Maston's home run. Kentaro Felton added a two-run single, and Jaxon Bunkers followed with an RBI double as Morningside quickly built separation.
Delzell and Perez each hit solo home runs in the fourth inning, and Bunkers added a two-run homer in the fifth. O'Dell drew an RBI walk, King added a sacrifice fly, and Delzell capped the scoring with an RBI single.
Morningside finished with 18 hits in the nightcap.
Tiago Sanchez earned his third win of the season, striking out eight over four innings. Reid Nagel followed with three innings of relief, limiting Waldorf to four baserunners.