Figueroa powers Mustangs to series sweep

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Jeremy Figueroa was clutch at the plate, collecting five hits and four runs batted in as Mount Mercy completed a Heart of America Athletic Conference sweep of Graceland with 11-4 and 3-0 victories over the Yellowjackets on Monday at the Robert W. Plaster Athletic Complex.

The Mustangs, who opened the four-game set with 4-3 and 8-2 wins on Saturday, outscored the Yellowjackets 26-9 in the series.  That followed a series with Benedictine last weekend that saw Mount Mercy average better than 10 runs per game in a 3-1 series win. The Mustangs have won six in a row and improved to 11-1 at home while moving to 19-8 overall and 10-2 in the Heart. Graceland drops to 8-19 and 2-8 in the league.

Figueroa was a force in the leadoff spot in Monday's opener. He was 3-for-3 with four stolen bases, four runs scored and three RBI. That included a three-run bomb in the bottom of the third inning that gave the Mustangs a 7-1 lead. Evan Paulus had a two-run single in the second and totaled four runs batted in. Blake Harseim (2-2) picked up the win.

The series finale was tight, but lone runs in the second, third, and fourth innings were enough for Mount Mercy to get a 3-0 shutout victory. A passed ball led to the Mustangs' first run, Joel Vaske hit his third home run of the season in the third frame, and Figueroa's RBI single plated Kyle Moeder after he tripled in the fourth. Kyle Lehmann (4-1) was sharp on the mound, tossing 5-2/3 innings of three-hit ball with six strikeouts and a walk. Jon Cross earned his fourth save of the year after allowing one hit with three strikeouts in 1-1/3 innings of work.

Mount Mercy looks to extend their winning streak this weekend at Culver-Stockton. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday in Canton, Mo.