Mustangs split Thursday night, win series with Bobcats

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- On Thursday night Mount Mercy and Peru State (Neb.) concluded their four-game Heart of America Athletic Conference series which was postponed from March 29. The Mustangs swept the Bobcats on March 28, then split the series finale, 10-1 and 5-2, to take three of four from their North Division rival at the Robert W. Plaster Athletic Complex.

Due to how the schedule played out, number one starter Kobey Schlotman (7-1) notched his second win against the Bobcats this season. He won the first game of the series nearly a month ago, 1-0, but received more run support in a 10-1 victory in Thursday's opener. In six innings of work, he struck out 13 batters to set a new single-season mark with 84. The previous school record was 82 by Mount Mercy Hall of Famer Justin Pegump in 2004. Schlotman allowed the lone earned run on six hits and Tyler Stern pitched a scoreless seventh in relief.

Going into the top of the third tied at 1-1, Mount Mercy's bats came alive, scoring three in the third and four in the fourth before tacking on an insurance run in each of the last two innings. The Mustangs totaled 15 hits as Evan Paulus led the hitting brigade, going 4-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. Kaimana Souza-Paaluhi blasted his sixth home run of the season, finishing a three-hit game with two RBI and three runs scored. Kyle Moeder and Justin Janssen each drove in a pair of runs as well.

The nightcap featured a back-and-forth game with Peru State (20-24, 17-7 Heart) coming out on top, 5-2. The Bobcats got on the board in the top of the first, but Mount Mercy responded in the third. A leadoff single off the bat of Casey Sole followed by a Drake Frazier sacrifice bunt, set up the Tyler Dahm RBI. Three batters later, Brett Swalve singled through the right side, bringing home Dahm for a 2-1 lead. Peru State used a three-run homer to take back the lead, 4-2, and chase Mount Mercy starting pitcher Andrue Henry (1-1), who went 3-2/3 innings. The Bobcats used four pitchers over the final four frames, but each were able to hold the Mustangs scoreless while adding another run in the sixth.

Kale Orman pitched 2-1/3 innings of relief, allowing one run on two hits and striking out four. Jacob Lodge sat Peru State down in order in the seventh. Mount Mercy threatened in bottom half after a Paulus walk and a Moeder single but couldn't get any runs across the plate. Dahm, Swalve, and Frazier each had two hits apiece to lead the Mustangs.

Mount Mercy (25-16, 14-10 Heart) looks to make a late-season push with eight more games at the Plaster Athletic Complex. The Mustangs host Culver-Stockton (16-23, 9-15 Heart) this weekend for a four-game Heart matchup. First pitch is at noon on Saturday and 1:00 pm on Sunday.