Pair of Vaske Home Runs Propels Mustangs to Two Wins

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - A pair of long balls from Joel Vaske in the nightcap was enough to propel the Mustangs to a doubleheader sweep to start the final weekend of the regular season, as the Mustangs sweep Clarke, 7-1 and 3-2.

Game One

Tyler Pecson, Riley Rundquist, and Kyle Moeder would each record multiple hits, as Moeder would do massive damage against the Clarke pitching staff, driving in a game high four runs in the contest. 

Pecson got the scoring started in the bottom of the first with a leadoff home run to left center, as the Mustangs jumped out to a 1-0 lead after the first inning. Moeder would tack on a deep long ball of his own, driving in a pair as Rundquist came across to score. Rundquist would follow that up with an RBI single of his own in the third, followed by a Jaden Hackbarth RBI single as Mount Mercy jumped out to a five run lead.

Clarke got on the board in the top of the fourth as Alden Brown doubled down the right field line, scoring a run. The Mustangs however would answer in the sixth, as Moeder drove in two more on a double down the left field line, ending the scoring as the Mustangs won by a 7-1 scoreline.

Ashton Schwab saw his record improve to 7-0, pitching four innings and striking out four. Josh Fleming earned the save, pitching three innings without allowing a run and striking out three. Christian Prull was tabbed with the loss, tossing five innings and allowing five earned runs.

Game Two

The only Mustang with multiple hits in the nightcap was Vaske, who had two monumental hits late in the game to eventually seal the Mustang win.

Clarke would get on the board first as Brown singled to right field which drove in a pair, as the Pride jumped out to an early two run lead. Drake Frazier would answer with an RBI single up the middle as Moeder would come across to score.

In the sixth, Vaske would record the first of his two home runs in the game with the Mustangs down one, as his solo shot tied the game at two. Vaske would step up to the plate again in the bottom of the eighth with the game tied, and blasted a ball to left for a walkoff shot as the Mustangs completed the doubleheader sweep of Clarke.

Zach Barden earned the win, pitching two innings and striking out four. Dante Maietta was tabbed with the loss, pitching just under eight innings, allowing three runs and striking out eight.