Mustang
BASEBALL FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2022
Morningside University looks to continue a recent strong run of play this afternoon. Head coach Adam Boeve’s Mustangs, sporting a 20-12 overall and 7-9 Great Plains Athletic Conference record, have won three of their last four. Dordt University visits Mercy One Field at Lewis and Clark Park for a critical pair of conference contests. Head coach Nathan Bacon’s Defenders (12-20, 8-8 GPAC) are in a similar groove as their hosts, winning four of their last six.
THE SERIES The Mustangs have won nine in a row and 46 of 53 all-time against their northern-most Siouxland rivals. Sixteen of the last 24 contests have been decided by four-runs-or-less.
THE MATCH-UP Mside opened a five-game week’s schedule completing a non-conference season set against North Star Athletic Association power and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ top-10 ranked Bellevue University on April 12. The Bruins needed every bit of a big late stages comeback to hold off Boeve’s bunch. While searching for a fourth straight victory, Morningside opened up a 5-1 lead through three and a half innings. In the second, freshman outfielder Hunter Jenkins launched a grand slam, and sophomore infielder Eddie Brancato drilled a solo shot in the third. From that point, the hosts were able to respond with a nine-run comeback over the final six innings to claim a 10-5 nonconference victory. BU’s bullpen was the key, limiting the visitors to two hits over the last four frames. Jenkins wound up the Mustangs’ offensive leader with two hits plus the four RBI. Continuing along the second half of the conference schedule, Mside is still among the GPAC top four in batting average (.303) and slugging percentage (.480). They also find themselves in a nearly similar territory regarding pitching, with their 5.11 staff earned-run average fifth-lowest. It’s the same for them defensively, with the team’s .963 fielding percentage sitting third-highest. Individually, through 32 games, freshman catcher Jayson Willers is the batting average leader (.371); sophomore pitcher Wade Canaday tops the starting mound crew in wins (four) and ERA (3.96); senior relief pitcher Jordan Kyle continues to be one of the conference’s top firemen with a 2.66 ERA, five saves, and 32 strikeouts in 20 and third innings pitched; and the glove work of Willers (.987) and sophomore infielder Aiden Bishop (.981) top the defense. Dordt’s impressive eight-win GPAC roll has been sparked, in large part, by junior pitcher Gyeongju Kim. Kim has 87 strikeouts, five wins, four complete games, and two shutouts in 10 appearances. Senior shortstop Logan Cline is the offense’s power broker. He’s hammered seven home runs, 14 doubles, and three triples. He’s also one of the conference’s best on the basepaths, going 15-of-19 in stolen bases. Morningside follows today’s twin bill with a trip to loop-leading Doane University tomorrow. Game time is 1 p.m. at DU’s Ballfield Complex in Crete, Neb.