Mustangs Split with Grand View to Open Senior Weekend

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Mustang baseball team split with Grand View to open the final weekend of the regular season, winning in extra innings in the opener by a score of 1-0, then falling in game two, 9-6.

Game One

In a fast moving game one, neither team could generate much offense, as only one run scored in the contest. The only Mustang in double figures was Josh Notriano, going 2-4 from the plate.

Jaden Hackbarth, Jeremy Figueroa, Bryce Brown, Derek Einertson, and Drew Terpins would also record hits. Hackbarth would deliver the final blow, singling to left field in the bottom of the tenth inning, scoring Cedric Dunnwald, as that would be the game's only run as the Mustangs earned the win.

Tyler Nagelbach, despite not being a pitcher of record, was phenomenal in his start, going eight innings and allowing just three hits while striking out four. Owen Brauch earned the win, throwing the final two innings of the game while allowing just one walk and striking out one. Noah Kueter was tabbed with the loss, throwing 2.2 innings and allowing two hits and one run.

Game Two

The Mustangs were able to get six runs in the nightcap, as Notriano would continue his hot streak, going 4-4, while Garrett Dennis joined him with multiple hits, going 2-4. Brown would be the third Mustang with two hits, while Brown, Dennis, Einertson, Terpins, and Dunnwald would record RBIs.

The Vikings got the scoring started in the top of the first on a double down te left field line. The Mustangs would answer with three in the second, as Einertson got the scoring started with a single to left, scoring Notriano. Terpins would then drive in a run on a fielders choice, while Dunnwald drove in a run on a sac bunt, as the Mustangs held a 3-1 lead after two.

In the third, Brown came across to score on an error by the Vikings shortstop, increasing the lead to three. Over the next two innings, the Vikings added five runs, capped off by a double to left in the fifth inning, as they held a two run lead. Dennis then drove in his lone RBI on a single to left field to get the Mustangs to within one. Following a three run top of the seventh, Brown added his RBI on a solo homer in the seventh, but the Vikings held on to win, clinching a share of the Heart regular season title.

Jason Moist earned the win, increasing his record to 7-0, pitching five innings and allowing four runs. Devin Doyle earned his eighth save, throwing one inning and striking out two. Michael Schaul was tabbed with the loss, throwing just over four innings and allowing four runs and striking out three.

The Mustangs will honor their graduating seniors on Saturday, with the ceremony slated to begin prior to the 1 p.m. first pitch.