Mustangs split non-conference contests
MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa -- The Mount Mercy baseball team was looking to build momentum from this mid-week matchup with Iowa Wesleyan going into a weekend series with ninth-ranked Central Methodist. The Mustangs cruised to a 10-0 victory in game one, but the Tigers had other ideas for game two, shutting out Mount Mercy, 2-0, at Mapleleaf Complex.
Kaimana Souza-Paaluhi singled in the top of the first inning in the opener, but Mount Mercy would not record another hit until the sixth. In that frame, Dalton Hews was hit by a pitch, Tyler Dahm reached on an error, and Souza-Paaluhi was intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs. Zach Barden singled to left, plating Hews for the first run of the game. Brett Swalve then blasted a grand slam to center field to boost the Mustang offense. Sam Stonskas and pinch runner Jason Strunk scored on a wild pitch and an error by the catcher, giving the Mustangs a 7-0 lead. They tacked on three more in the seventh, again on an error and wild pitch, scoring Justin Janssen and David Mitchell. Trey Roberson had an RBI single in the frame as well. Starting pitcher Ryne Schooley (3-2), Kale Orman, and Carter Lawler threw a combined shutout. Schooley went four innings allowing a lone hit. Orman tossed 1-1/3 innings while striking out three and Lawler shut the Tiger offense down for the final 1-2/3 innings.
Iowa Wesleyan (13-26) bounced back, shutting down Mount Mercy's offense in game two. The Mustangs were held to just four hits, one apiece by Souza-Paaluhi, Evan Paulus, Casey Sole, and Strunk. Mount Mercy's inability to string hits together, combined with 14 strikeouts, led to the 2-0 shutout loss. The Tigers scored one in the second after a hit by pitch and a single, which lead to a fielder's choice RBI. They scored again in the third on back-to-back walks followed by an RBI double. Brady Schiesl (1-1) pitched two innings, giving up an earned run on two hits. Andrue Henry allowed an earned run on one hit in 1-1/3 innings. Jacob Lodge and Nolan Frey tossed 2-2/3 innings of hitless, scoreless baseball.
This weekend, Mount Mercy (21-9, 11-3 Heart) hosts Central Methodist (27-6, 13-3 Heart) in a Heart of America Athletic Conference four-game series. The Mustangs lead the North Division, while the Eagles sit atop the South Division and have the best overall record in the league. The showdown starts at 1:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday at the Robert W. Plaster Athletic Complex.