Mustang
BASEBALL FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022
Morningside University looks to rebound from a tough-luck weekend series defeat at the hands of Mount Marty University as Concordia University visits Mercy One Field at Lewis and Clark Park this afternoon. The Mustangs (17-10 overall, 4-8 GPAC) open a set of four games in three days with the doubleheader against the defending loop champion Bulldogs. A trip to the University of Jamestown for a Sunday, April 10, double-dip follows today’s matinee.
THE SERIES CU has a slight 6-4 edge dating back through 2016. In that timeframe, the margin of victory has been four-runs-or-less in the last seven meetings. Morningside maintains a 21-16 all-time lead.
THE MATCH-UP Head coach Adam Boeve’s squad still has a strong road towards a potential high seed for the 2022 league postseason tournament. With 16 contests remaining, Mside is only one game behind Northwestern College, Midland University, and Jamestown for a three-way knot for eighth and just two games behind Dordt University for a spot in the top five. The Mustangs enter the weekend ranked among the league’s first five offensively, on the mound and on the field. Their .303 team batting average is tied for third-best with Midland. The staff’s 4.97 earned run average is the last of the sub 5.00 marks. The team’s .964 fielding percentage also has a spot in similar territory, being tied for third with Briar Cliff. Freshman catcher Jayson Willers and sophomore infielder Eddie Brancato are one-two for the squad’s batting average lead. Willers sports a .376 mark with a team-leading 29 RBI included. Brancato is at .371 with 24 RBI and a team-best nine doubles. With six home runs, freshman utility player Alex Calabrese also provides plenty of spark. On the hill, the sophomore starting duo of Wade Canaday and Quintin Holman remain two of the best in the league, as Canaday is 4-1 with a 3.48 ERA and 37 strikeouts, and Holman is 3-0 with a 3.19 ERA and 36 strikeouts. Bullpen standout Jordan Kyle is among the GPAC’s best save-wise (four). Concordia’s path to a 22-7-1 overall and co-GPAC-leading 11-1 mark has been forged with a fearsome offense. Head coach Ryan Dupic’s crew has belted 59 home runs and 71 doubles towards 307 runs scored, which are easily atop the conference. They come into the twin bill on a run of five straight contests with 10-or-more runs scored. The sophomore infield combination of Jayden Adams and Jaidan Quinn boasts 11 home runs apiece and a combined 73 RBI. Sophomores Alex Johnson and Caden Bugarske have produced nine victories and 68 strikeouts for the pitching staff. Mside returns home following Sunday’s games at Jamestown and a nineinning clash at non-conference foe Bellevue University Tuesday, April 12, for a league doubleheader against Dordt Thursday, April 14. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.