Offense sets tone early in road sweep

YANKTON, S.D. — The Morningside baseball team picked up two more Great Plains Athletic Conference wins Thursday, sweeping Mount Marty by scores of 10-5 and 4-3.

In Game 1, the Mustangs scored in each of the first three innings to set the tone early. Conner Maston drove in three runs during that stretch, including a two-run home run in the second inning. Hayden Hixon also homered in the frame.

Michael Snyder put Morningside on the board with a sacrifice fly in the first inning, while Michael Delzell and Romani Perez added RBI hits in the third.

The Mustangs added insurance in the sixth, as Connor Woods drew a bases-loaded walk and Jaxon Bunkers followed with a two-run single.

Kade Yasui, Jacob O'Dell, Woods, Delzell, and Maston each recorded two hits in the opener.

Cade Nolan earned the win, allowing three runs on five baserunners over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out eight while forcing four groundouts and four flyouts. Reid Nagel and Rhys Fairweather closed out the final 1 1/3 innings.

Game 2 turned into a tighter battle, but the Mustangs delivered when it mattered most.

After O'Dell opened the scoring with a solo home run in the fourth inning, Maston came through again in the fifth with a go-ahead two-run homer. Unlike his late-inning blast against Briar Cliff, Maston jumped on the first pitch and sent it out to give Morningside the lead.

Yasui added an insurance run later in the inning with an RBI groundout.

Kai Purdy-Burton earned his fifth win of the season, limiting the Lancers to two runs on five hits and two walks over five innings while striking out five.

Mason Rego followed with a scoreless sixth inning, and Sam Hanson secured his sixth save with a perfect seventh, needing just eight pitches.