Mustangs open strong in Missouri

POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. -- The Mount Mercy baseball team is off to a strong start after posting double-digit runs in both games of Friday's season-opening doubleheader against College of the Ozarks. The Mustangs won the opener, 10-3, and the nightcap, 12-1, at Bob Smith Field.

The Mustangs wasted no time in the opener as Kaimana Souza-Paaluhi's two-run homer in the top of the first scored Tyler Dahm to give Mount Mercy a 2-0 lead. Kyle Moeder added a run-scoring double in the second and a two-run single in the sixth and it was 6-1 in favor of the Mustangs. An inning later, Brett Swalve blasted a grand slam to wrap the scoring for Mount Mercy.

Swalve finished 2-for-4 with four runs batted in while Moeder ended up 2-for-4 with three RBI. Souza-Paaluhi was also 2-for-4. Dahm, Drake Frazier, and Sam Stonskas scored a pair of runs for the Mustangs. Left-hander Kobey Schlotman (1-0) threw four solid innings, allowing an earned run on two hits with nine strikeout and three walks. Jacob Lodge pitched three inning in relief, surrendering a pair of earned runs on six hits. He struck out four and didn't walk a batter.

Game two was more of the same as the Mount Mercy offense overpowered the Bobcats. The Mustangs got solo home runs in back-to-back innings from Andrue Henry and Casey Sole. A sacrifice fly by Evan Paulus made it 3-0 after 4-1/2 innings. After College of the Ozarks cut the deficit to 3-1, Jason Strunk added a sac fly and Souza-Paaluhi drilled a three-run homer during a four-run sixth and it was 7-1. Mount Mercy tacked on five more runs, capped off by Paulus' two-run single in the seventh.

Souza-Paaluhi was 2-for-3 with four RBI and a pair of runs scored. Paulus drove in three runs, Henry two, while Dahm scored three runs and Sole was plated twice. In his first start as a Mustang, Nathan Pardini (1-0) tossed four scoreless frames to earn the win. He scattered three hits while striking out eight with one base on balls. Kale Orman allowed two hits and an earned run with a pair of strikeouts and Brady Sadler pitched a clean seventh inning out of the bullpen.

With Saturday's doubleheader canceled because of cold weather, Mount Mercy (2-0) sets its sights on warmer temps. The Mustangs head to Arizona next week and will play four games against Benedictine Mesa. A single game is slated for Thursday, Feb. 17, at 7:00 pm Central Time at Gene Autry Park in Mesa. Friday's schedule includes a doubleheader beginning at noon back at Gene Autry Park, then Saturday's series finale begins at 1:00 pm, this time at Mesa Community College.