Wildcats Hand Mustangs First Home Conference Loss Since 2023 in Doubleheader Split

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Mount Mercy baseball team suffered their first home conference loss since April 23, 2023, after winning 21 straight home conference games, in a doubleheader split with Culver-Stockton, 6-4 and 9-5.

Game One

The scoring got started early as Jaison Andujar would reach on an error by the Mustang center fielder, as two runs would come across to score. Tristan Meny followed that up with an RBI single to left center as Culver-Stockton would jump out to a three run lead after the first inning. 

The Mustangs would then strike for five in the second, as Tyler Pecson got the Mustang offense going with a triple to left, and would come across to score as an errant throw from the Wildcat left fielder would wind up out of play before making it to the third base bag. Josh Notriano followed that up with a solo shot to dead center off the batters eye to make it a one run game. Drew Terpins tied the game on a double to left center, scoring Darrell Michael Jean. Jaden Hackbarth would then drive in a run on a sac fly, while Terpins came in on a wild pitch to round out the second inning.

The Wildcats answered with one in the third, as Bryan Barreto flied out to center on a sac fly to make it a one run game. But Derek Einertson would increase the lead to two on a single up the middle, scoring Notriano to round out the game's scoring.

Owen Coffman earned the win, pitching four innings and allowing four runs. Cole Conner earned the save, closing out the game in the seventh with a strikeout. Davin Meier was tabbed with the loss, pitching six innings and allowing six runs while striking out five.

Game Two

The Mustangs jumped out to a three run lead in the first two innings, driving home three in the second inning. Terpins got the offense going with a single up the middle, while Cedric Dunnwald added a two run blast to left center. However, the Wildcats would respond forcefully in the fourth, driving in seven runs. Meny drove in a run to right center, followed by Barreto singling to left center. Ryan Osso added a three run double , while Andujar drove in two on a single to cap off the inning.

Andujar would drive in two more in the sixth, ending the game with a game-high four RBIs. Dunnwald would then add another RBI, scoring Jean, before Terpins would score on a wild pitch strikeout in which Hackbarth would reach first.

Clayton Woods earned the win for the Wildcats, pitching 5.2 innings and allowing nine hits and five runs. Ashton Schwab was tabbed with the loss, pitching three innings and allowing six earned runs while striking out six.

The Mustangs will look to start a new home winning streak, rounding out the series with Culver-Stockton on Sunday, with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.