Mustang Bats Shine as Mount Mercy Win Streak Extends to Eight

LAMONI, Iowa - The Mount Mercy bats exploded offensively in the final doubleheader of the weekend series, scoring a combined 35 runs in 15-3 and 20-10 wins over Graceland, starting Heart of America play with an eight game win streak.

Game One

The Mustangs (12-10) were paced by a 3-4, four RBI performance from third baseman Josh Notriano, as five players recorded more than one RBI in the opening win, while Tyler Dahm was the only other Mustang to record more than one hit.

Matthew Murphy got the scoring started with a bang, blasting a three-run shot to right field in the first inning as Mount Mercy quickly jumped out to the lead. Dahm would follow that up in the second inning with a two-run double to right center, scoring Drake Frazier and Kyle Moeder, as the Mustang lead spread to 5-0 after two frames.

In the third, Trent Hoogerwerf doubled down the right field line, scoring Murphy, and Kyle Lehmann followed that up with a two-run bomb of his own, as the Mustangs ended the third inning with a commanding 8-0 lead. Trent Hoogerwerf tallied another RBI in the fourth on a sacrifice fly, scoring Notriano, marking nine unanswered runs.

The Yellow Jackets finally broke through the scoring drought in the bottom of the fourth as Ybrahim Quevedo recorded his lone hit in the game on a solo shot, as Graceland was able to trim down the lead by just a run. The Mustang offense responded with four more in the top of the fifth, capped off by a Notriano three-run shot to right center, scoring Jaden Hackbarth and Frazier. Notriano would cap off the Mustang scoring in the seventh on a double to right center, scoring Hackbarth, capping off a four-RBI day and a 15 run outburst by the Mustangs.

Ashton Schwab improved his record to 3-0 on the season, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing three earned runs while striking out four. Felix Lopez was tabbed with the loss, pitching 2.2 innings and allowing eight earned runs while just striking one.

Game Two

The offensive outburst wouldn't stop in the nightcap, as six Mustang batters would register at least two hits, led by a 4-5 performance from Brandon Bickford. Trent Hoogerwerf and Drake Frazier would also have monster games behind the plate, finishing with four and five RBI's respectively.

Mount Mercy got the scoring started first once again in the series on a Kyle Moeder groundout as Bryce Brown came in to score. Frazier followed that up with the first of his five RBI's, reaching on an infield single as Lehmann would come across the plate, stretching the lead to two. The Yellow Jackets tied up the contest in the bottom of the second inning as Randy Diaz drove in a pair on a single.

The Mustangs respond in a big way, scoring the next 11 runs. In the third, Murphy registered a double to left center, scoring Notriano. Hoogerwerf followed that up with a two-RBI single to right field, scoring Murphy and Bickford. Following a passed ball that scored Brown, Frazier would record his second RBI on a sacrifice, scoring Joel Vaske. A Notriano single to center field would score Moeder. Notriano would take off for second, and Hackbarth took that opportunity to swipe home to add another run in favor of Mount Mercy, as the third inning would end with an 8-2 score in favor of Mount Mercy.

Over the next two innings, Hoogerwerf added an RBI double, while Moeder, Frazier, and Brown would all drive in runs, stretching the lead to 11. The Yellow Jackets were down, but not out, as Graceland responded in a ferocious way in the bottom of the fifth, plating eight runs to claw the lead back down to three. However, the Mustangs were unfazed, plating six more in the seventh. Frazier would drive in his final two runs on a single to center field, while Notriano drove in a run on an error. Following a two-run triple from Brandon Bickford, Hoogerwerf drove in another run to cap off the Mustang offensive showcase.

Josh Fleming earned the win, pitching 2.2 innings in relief and allowing four earned runs while striking out one. Elio Narvaez was tabbed with the loss, pitching 2.2 innings and allowing nine earned runs and striking out three.

The Mustang win streak will next be put to the test against sixth-ranked Central Methodist on the road next weekend.