Mustang Baseball Splits with Culver-Stockton to Open Weekend

CANTON, Mo. — Mount Mercy faced Culver-Stockton in a doubleheader on Saturday at Nichols Field, resulting in a split with a 7–5 loss in the first game and a 15–10 victory in the second.

Game 1
The Mustangs tallied 10 hits, including a home run, but Culver-Stockton claimed the victory with a strong early lead. The clash kicked off with a tough first inning, as Kannon Kirk's solo home run gave Culver-Stockton a 1-0 edge. In the top of the second, Mount Mercy fought back when Drew Terpins launched a two-run homer to left field, bringing home Mason Behn, who was pinch-running after Nick Meyer reached on an error. This briefly put Mount Mercy ahead at 2-1, but Culver-Stockton quickly regained control with three runs in their half of the inning, fueled by a sacrifice fly from Wyatt Wright and an RBI single by Yohander Ubiera, pulling ahead 4-2.

The Mustangs narrowed the gap in the fifth inning. Christian Graves doubled to center and scored on a wild pitch, followed by Sam Wiese's RBI single, trimming Culver-Stockton's lead to 6-4. In the sixth, Mount Mercy added a run as Lane Spieker's sacrifice fly allowed Chase Gerwig to score, but a sacrifice fly by Harry Oden for Culver-Stockton kept their lead intact at 7-5. Despite pressing in the final innings, the Mustangs couldn't overcome Culver-Stockton's lead, ending with a 7–5 loss.

For Culver-Stockton, Kirk displayed his offensive prowess with a home run and two RBIs, drawing two walks, one intentional. Jeremiah Morris impacted the game with two hits, including a double, driving in two runs. Ubiera showed versatility by scoring two runs and driving in another with a hit and a walk. Oden added to the team's success by scoring a run, driving in another, and stealing a base.

The Mustangs fell to 14-9 with a 4-1 conference record, while Culver-Stockton improved to 6-15 with a 1-4 record in the Heart conference.

Game 2
In the second matchup, Mount Mercy clinched a 15-10 win, capitalizing on Culver-Stockton's six errors and scoring six runs in the ninth inning to seal the victory. Mount Mercy jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the first inning. Kade Knock reached first on a fielding error and scored when Christian Graves singled, advancing on another error. Lane Spieker and Sam Wiese both walked to load the bases before DJ Harris was hit by a pitch, allowing Graves to score. Nick Meyer followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home Spieker, giving the Mustangs a 3-0 lead after one inning.

Culver-Stockton answered in the second inning with three runs, including a three-run homer from Cooper Kiel, tying the game at 3-3. Mount Mercy regained the lead in the third before Culver-Stockton responded with five runs, taking an 8-5 lead. However, Mount Mercy closed the gap with three runs in the sixth, tied it up in the seventh, and broke the deadlock in the ninth with a six-run rally, ultimately securing a 15-10 victory.

For Culver-Stockton, Kiel shined with three hits, including a home run, and drove in five runs. Schofield contributed with two hits, two runs, and two RBIs, including a double. Oden scored twice, and Kannon Kirk showed patience with two walks, scoring once and stealing a base. Jeremiah Morris rounded out the contributions with one hit, one run, and one RBI, also drawing two walks and stealing a base.

The Mustangs are set to face Culver-Stockton again at 1 p.m. CT on Sunday, March 22.