Mustangs Drop Pair of Defensive Battles to Central Methodist

FAYETTE, Mo. - The Mount Mercy baseball team dropped a pair of contests to sixth-ranked Central Methodist, falling by scores of 3-2 and 2-0 on Friday.

Game One

The Mustangs (12-12) saw Joel Vaske go a perfect 3-3 from the plate, as he was the only Mount Mercy player with more than one hit. Brandon Bickford and Jaden Hackbarth both recorded hits in the game.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the second inning, Bobby Nichols drew a walk which drove in the first run of the contest. CMU would hold the lead until the final inning when the Mustangs were able to answer back.

Hackbarth recorded his lone hit of the contest in the top of the seventh, singling to center field which scored Vaske, as the Mustangs were able to tie the game at one. Matthew Murphy would follow that up with a sacrifice fly, scoring Derek Einertson as Mount Mercy took a one run lead heading into the bottom of the seventh. Valentin Cerna Jr. delivered for Central Methodist, singling to right field to drive in the tying run. Once Cerna was able to advance to third, Jeremy Conforti drove in the walk off winner for CMU on a sacrifice fly, as the Eagles would take game one.

Larry Riddle Jr. earned the win, pitching 1.1 innings in relief, allowing two runs while striking out two. Zach Barden was tabbed with the loss, pitching in the seventh inning and allowing the final two runs of the contest.

Game Two

The nightcap of the doubleheader was another defensive battle, as both teams combined for just six hits in the contest, as each team was able to register three hits. Two of the Mustangs three hits came from Matthew Murphy, who would go 2-3 in the loss, while Jaden Hackbarth tallied the only other hit.

Central Methodist saw a 2-2, two-RBI performance from Joseph Weatherford, who would drive in the only two runs of the game on a two-run shot in the bottom of the fourth. Diego Da Rin tallied the only other CMU hit in the contest.

Clayton Burke earned the win, improving his record to 6-1 on the year, pitching a complete game shutout, striking out 10 batters in the win. Matt Irvine, despite the loss, was phenomenal on the mound, only allowing the two runs while striking out 11 CMU batters.

The Mustangs will wrap up the weekend slate on Saturday with another doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. in Fayette.