Mustang
BASEBALL SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2022
The yearly Great Plains Athletic Conference crosstown diamond collision between Morningside University and Briar Cliff University starts the 2022 league campaign for both programs. BCU’s Bishop Mueller Field started off the four-game set Saturday. Today’s twin bill is the home opener for head coach Adam Boeve’s team.
THE SERIES With a slight 6-4 advantage since 2019, the Chargers have made advances on the Mustangs’ all-time edge. Morningside still leads 68-58-2 in a headto-head meeting that dates back to 1979.
THE MATCH-UP Mside began a five-game week with an offensively-minded 10-6 win over northwest Iowa National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Buena Vista University on March 16. Morningside University used an earlyinnings rally to pick up a road victory. The Mustangs, improving to 12-2, put up seven runs over the fourth and fifth frames at Storm Lake High School field to brush aside an early 1-0 lead for home-standing Buena Vista University. The Beavers cut the deficit to 7-5 with a mid-game answer but couldn’t surpass head coach Adam Boeve’s bullpen. Sophomore Josh Pratt, senior Jordan Kyle, and sophomore Zak Scott shut the door on their hosts over the final four innings. The trio surrendered only one hit and struck out five in the span. Junior catcher Jayson Willers helped spark the offense. He totaled two hits and drove in two. Senior infielder Carter Kratz, sophomore infielder Eddie Brancato, senior outfielder Braden Smutz, and sophomore pitcher/infielder Aiden Bishop also added two-hit evenings. Boeve’s crew has two players among the national top 20 at the dish. Junior Aiden Bishop is just outside the first 10, hitting a robust .486, and Willers’ .476 mark is 19th-highest. They are two of four Mustangs at .400 or above, joining Brancato (.429) and Smutz (.407). Mside’s pitching staff has been balanced to date, with three starters having two wins in sophomore Will Brandner and Quintin Holman and junior Wade Canaday, along with senior Jordan Kyle, who has done so from the bullpen. The entire mound group has registered 127 strikeouts, with seven individuals recording 10-ormore. BCU entered the weekend on a three-game win string. Freshman infielder Cam Reiner and junior catcher Jake Allen guided the offense over 16 games, hitting .426 and .409. Reimers had been a one-person power supply in the span, with seven home runs leading to 27 RBI. Sophomore Tyler Kjose was first in pitching victories going into the series at 3-0. Senior Dalen Blair’s 24 strikeouts led the staff. Morningside is scheduled to resume four straight and seven of its next nine at home Tuesday, March 22, against North Star Athletic Association member Mayville State University. The first pitch is 2 p.m.