Mustangs Sweep Doubleheader with Culver-Stockton

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Mustang baseball team got back on the winning path, sweeping the doubleheader with Culver-Stockton, 9-6 and 14-3.

Game One

The Mustangs struck for three in the first inning as Tyler Pecson drove in a run on a single to left center, while Josh Notriano drove in an RBI on a sac fly to center field, while Bryce Brown and Pecson would come across to score. The Wildcats would answer with two in the second, as Harry Oden singled up the middle to drive in a pair.

In bottom of the second, Jaden Hackbarth singled to center, scoring Derek Einertson. The Wildcats would then strike for three in the third, on an RBI single, double, and triple in the inning. The Mustangs would then take the lead right back in the fourth, as Cedric Dunnwald drove in a run on a sac fly, while Brown drove in a run on a single to left. Brown would then add two more RBIs, leading the game with three total, on a two RBI double to left, scoring Jeremy Figueroa and Hackbarth. The Wildcats would add a run in the seventh on an RBI single by Jordan Scott, but the lead was too much to overcome, as the Mustangs held on for the win.

Owen Brauch earned the win, throwing 2.2 innings of two hit ball, striking out one. Cole Conner earned the save, throwing two innings of two hit ball while allowing one run. Cole Parkhill was tabbed with the loss, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing five earned runs on eight hits.

Game Two

The offense was red hot in the nightcap, scoring at least two runs in four of the six innings offensively. Garrett Dennis doubled to left center in the first inning, driving in the two runs in the first inning. Griffen Bushnell led off the second inning with a solo shot, while Hackbarth drove in Terpins on a sac fly, as Terpins showcased his speed by scoring from second.

The offense wouldn't stop in the third, as Dennis drove in another run on a double to left, while Bushnell doubled to right center to drive in another run. Terpins added a double to left, while Einertson tallied the fourth RBI double of the inning to increase the lead to seven. The scoring in the third would be capped off by Einertson scoring on an error by the Wildcat second baseman. 

The onslaught would continue in the fourth, as Pecson came across to score on a double steal, as Dunnwald would swipe second. Einertson followed that up with an RBI single to center, while Hackbarth added a pair of RBIs on a single to left center. The Mustang offense was capped off with a Notriano single to left center, as the Mustangs would hold on to win, 14-3.

Jack Turgasen improved his record to 3-2, delivering another phenomenal performance on the mound, pitching six innings while allowing two runs and striking out 10. Kannon Kirk was tabbed with the loss, falling to 0-1 on the season. He would pitch 2.1 innings while allowing seven earned runs.

The Mustangs will return to the diamond on Tuesday, taking on NCAA DII foe Winona State in a doubleheader at the Plaster Athletic Complex in Cedar Rapids.