Conner Ties School Record as Mustangs Stay Alive in Conference Tournament

OZARK, Mo. — Mount Mercy showcased their strength in the Heart Conference Tournament with two impressive victories, first defeating Missouri Baptist, 6-1, and then overcoming Clarke, 9-5, on Saturday at Ozark Mountain.

In the game against Missouri Baptist, the Mustangs jumped to an early lead, scoring two runs in the first inning. Drew Terpins was hit by a pitch and advanced on Nick Meyer's double to right center, bringing Terpins home. Sam Wiese followed with a single, scoring Meyer and ending the inning 2-0 in favor of Mount Mercy.

The game remained scoreless until the sixth inning, where the Mustangs surged ahead with a four-run rally. Chase Gerwig walked and reached third on Derek Einertson's single. Einertson then stole second, allowing Lane Spieker to be hit by a pitch, which brought Gerwig home. Wiese capped off the inning with a three-RBI double, driving in Einertson, Terpins, and Spieker, extending the lead to 6-0.

Missouri Baptist managed to score in the seventh with a double from Griffin Brown followed by Max Shabestari's RBI single, but Mount Mercy secured the 6-1 victory.

Against Clarke, Mount Mercy again took control early, scoring three runs in the first inning. Christian Graves delivered a pivotal moment with a three-run homer to left field, bringing home Nick Meyer and Lane Spieker.

Clarke responded in the fifth inning with Bryn Vantiger's solo home run, making it 3-1. They added another run in the sixth, but Mount Mercy answered back in the seventh. Graves singled and scored on a single by Kade Knock, while Gerwig and Wiese added RBIs, and Terpins hit a two-RBI triple, increasing the lead to 7-3.

Clarke scored two in the eighth, including a solo homer by Kelley, but the Mustangs kept their momentum with two runs of their own, capped by Gerwig's two-RBI single. Mount Mercy concluded the game with a final score of 9-5.

In the game against Missouri Baptist, Cole Conner pitched a complete game, allowing just one earned run on three hits while striking out 14 batters. Wiese led offensively with four RBIs and a double, while Meyer contributed with two hits, including a double, and one RBI. Terpins showcased patience at the plate, scoring two runs and drawing two walks. For Missouri Baptist, Brown notched one run and one hit, including a double, while Shabestari had a hit and an RBI.

In the matchup with Clarke, Graves led the Mustangs with two hits and three RBIs, including a home run. Terpins added a triple and drove in two runs, while Spieker scored twice and hit a double. Mason Behn pitched five innings, striking out seven while allowing just one earned run. For Clarke, Kelley made an impact with two runs and a home run, while Vantiger also recorded a home run and an RBI. Brooks contributed with two hits and one RBI.

The Mustangs next face off against MidAmerica Nazarene for a spot in the conference championship, and a berth in the NAIA National Tournament.