Mustangs split divisional series against Pride

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Mount Mercy and Clarke, the top two teams in the North Division, faced off in a four-game Heart of America Athletic Conference series on Sunday and Monday at the Robert W. Plaster Athletic Complex. After sweeping Sunday's doubleheader to extend their winning streak to 11 games, the Mustangs dropped both games to the Pride on Monday.

Less than a week after tossing a complete-game shutout, Kobey Schlotman (6-0) continued to dominate on the mound, going the distance again, and striking out 10 for a 2-1 Mustang win in Sunday's opener. A lead off double by Sam Stonskas followed by a single from Tyler Dahm set up a Kyle Moeder sacrifice fly to get Mount Mercy on the board. The Mustangs added another run in the fifth after a Drake Frazier double and an RBI single from Kaimana Souza-Paaluhi. The Pride wouldn't get to Schlotman until the sixth, scoring on back-to-back hits to cut the deficit in half. Schlotman struck out two of the next three batters to secure his sixth win and stay perfect on the season.

The Mustangs used their momentum to jump out to an 8-0 lead after just two innings in game two. Mount Mercy batted around in both the first and second innings, collecting nine of their 15 hits in these frames. The Mustang offense would force the Pride to use four pitchers en route to a 13-4 win. Nathan Pardini (4-0) scattered eight hits and struck out four in four innings of work. Andrue Henry and Brady Sadler came on in relief for the final three innings. Dahm was 4-for-4 with three runs scored. Souza-Paaluhi was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBI. Zach Barden and Frazier each added two hits while Paulus plated three.

On Monday, Mount Mercy looked to pick up where they left off, scoring in the top of the first on hits from Souza-Paaluhi and Paulus. However, the Pride shut the Mustang offense down after that, allowing just two hits over the final six innings. Five Mount Mercy errors let Clarke score in each of the last four innings for the 8-1 win, snapping Mount Mercy's 11-game winning streak. Jackson Bennett got his first start of the year, a no decision, but allowed just one earned run and no hits in three innings of work. The Pride got to the Mustang bullpen of Ryne Schooley (2-2), Kale Orman, and Tyler Stern who each pitched one inning in relief.

The final game of the series was a defensive battle. Neither team was able to get a run across the plate until Clarke (23-10, 12-4 Heart) broke through in the fifth on three consecutive doubles. That proved to be the difference as Mount Mercy was held scoreless for the first time all season, falling 2-0. Joe Gabel (2-1) went 4-2/3 innings, giving up two earned runs on five hits while striking out six. Jacob Lodge kept the Pride offense at bay in the final 1-1/3 innings. Moeder and Stonskas accounted for four of the six Mustang hits, each with two.

The Mustangs will travel to Iowa Wesleyan on Wednesday, April 6, for a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 1:00 pm in Mount Pleasant. Mount Mercy (20-8, 11-3 Heart) will host seventh-ranked Central Methodist this weekend for a four-game series. First pitch is slated for 1:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.