Mustangs Break Single Game Record in Home Run Derby Doubleheader Split

PERU, Neb. - The Mustang baseball program broke the school record for home runs in a game, launching eight in game two of a doubleheader split with Peru State, dropping game one, 11-8, before rallying to dominate the Bobcats, 17-2, in the nightcap.

Both teams would combine for 18 home runs in the doubleheader, with game one seeing eight homers and the nightcap saw 10. The Mustangs eight home runs break a school record, previously at six, also set vs. Peru State in 2023. Six different players would record a long ball in the nightcap, as a pair of Mustangs each hit two.

Game One

The Mustangs were led offensively by a pair of three hit performances by Bryce Brown and Derek Einertson, both of whom would go on to have monster games in the nightcap as well. Both Brown and Einertson would also lead the team with a pair of RBIs in the opener.

Both teams scored their first runs of the game off of solo homers in the first inning, as the Mustangs struck first off the bat of Tyler Pecson, while Peru State's Antonio Benitez led off the inning with a solo shot. The Bobcats would then get two more in the inning, taking a 3-1 lead after the opening frame.

Einertson would blast the first of his two long balls of game one in the top of the second, pulling the Mustangs to within one. But the Bobcats answered with a trio of two run shots over the next two innings to increase their lead to eight. Einertson and Terpins would then strike for two on a pair of solo bombs in the fourth, while the Bobcats capped off the game one home run derby with a solo shot in the fourth.

The Mustangs offense would add four more over the final two innings, as Brown scored Cedric Dunnwald on a double to left, while three more in the second came across, capped by a Pecson single to right, but the Bobcats were able to hold on for the win.

Kevin Diaz earned the win for Peru State, throwing six innings and allowing seven hits and five runs on seven strikeouts. Owen Coffman was tabbed with the loss, throwing just over two innings and allowing 10 runs on 10 hits. Despite not being a pitcher of record, Erik Kiewiet had a great game on the mound, throwing just under four innings of three hit ball, only allowing one run on three hits while striking out five.

Game Two

Brown would have himself a game in the nightcap, going 2-4 with a three run shot and a solo shot, while Pecson would end up 3-5 in the game with a pair of homers.

Despite a scoreless first inning, the Mustangs would deal most of their damage in the second, as Jeremy Figueroa came across on an error, while Terpins doubled to left field to drive in a run, and Josh Notriano scored on an error. From there, Brown blew the floodgates wide open, blasting his three run shot to drive in Garrett Dennis and Terpins. Later in the inning, Figueroa drove in Pecson on a two run shot to extend the lead to eight at the end of two innings.

Terpins drove in Einertson on a sac fly in the third, before Brown belted his second of the game on a solo shot in the fourth. In the fifth, Terpins added his name to the home run sheet on a solo shot, before Jaden Hackbarth added a long ball of his own. After Dennis scored on a passed ball, Pecson hit his first of the game to extend the lead to 14 after four and a half innings played. The Bobcats were then able to finally get on the board as Airam Betancourt hit a pinch hit two run shot in the fifth.

The Mustangs then struck for three more in the seventh, as Pecson hit his second long ball of the game, this time on a two run shot while Griffen Bushnell joined the party with a solo shot to cap off the game as the Mustangs would end up with a 17-2 win.

Ashton Schwab earned the win, throwing 4.1 innings while allowing just two hits on two runs, all while striking out 11 Bobcat batters. Blake Denson was tabbed with the loss, pitching four innings while allowing ten runs on nine hits.

After the doubleheader, Brown as taken over the team lead in homers, as it's a tight race at the top, with Brown leading the pack with six through 29 games. Figueroa is just one long ball behind with five, while Pecson has four. Einertson, Brown, and Hackbarth are also in a tight race in terms of RBIs, recording 22, 21, and 20, respectively.

The Mustangs and Bobcats will return to the diamond, ending the series with a doubleheader in Peru tomorrow.