Mustangs Dismantle Graceland to Start Final Regular Season Series

LAMONI, Iowa — Mount Mercy enjoyed a successful doubleheader against Graceland on Friday, securing two decisive victories with scores of 16-1 and 14-0.

Game 1
The Mustangs showcased an explosive start, capitalizing on two errors by Graceland to score five runs in the first inning. Kade Knock reached on an error and later scored on a wild pitch. Lane Spieker walked and scored after Nick Meyer and Sam Wiese each reached base, with Wiese's play bringing in two unearned runs. Drew Terpins added an RBI double, bringing Wiese home, giving Mount Mercy a 5-0 lead after the first inning.

Continuing their offensive momentum, Mount Mercy added three more runs in the second inning. Derek Einertson walked and scored on a sacrifice fly by Knock. Christian Graves walked and advanced around the bases on wild pitches, eventually scoring. Spieker, who also walked, crossed home following a single by Wiese, increasing the lead to 8-0.

In the fourth inning, Knock scored after a double by Meyer, while Wiese's sacrifice fly brought Spieker home. An error allowed Terpins to reach base, permitting Meyer to score. DJ Harris, pinch-hitting for Yahirdavi Ortiz, doubled, driving in Terpins, and Chase Gerwig's single brought Harris home, pushing the Mustangs' lead to 13-0 through four innings.

Mount Mercy extended its lead to 16-0 by the end of the fifth inning with runs from Spieker on a sacrifice fly by Terpins and additional scores from Michael Rivero and Harris. Graceland managed to score in the seventh inning when Rafael Calcano was hit by a pitch and scored on a double by Juan Guzman, but the Mustangs held onto a commanding 16-1 victory.

Knock posted two runs and three stolen bases, while Spieker recorded four runs and drew five walks. Wiese drove in four runs with a single hit, including a sacrifice fly. Tyler Nagelbach pitched five scoreless innings, striking out four batters while allowing just three hits. Guzman emerged as a key player for Graceland with two hits, including a double, and an RBI.

Game 2
Mount Mercy continued its strong performance in Game 2, scoring 14 runs on 13 hits, including five doubles. The scoring began in the third inning when DJ Harris was hit by a pitch and scored on a groundout by Kade Knock. Christian Graves doubled to bring in Derek Einertson, followed by Lane Spieker's double that scored Graves, giving the Mustangs a 3-0 lead after three innings.

The Mustangs extended their lead in the fourth inning. Sam Wiese and Drew Terpins both reached base and scored on a double by Chase Gerwig. Yahirdavi Ortiz, a pinch runner, scored on a sacrifice fly by Einertson, and with additional plays, including a single by Knock and a sacrifice fly by Spieker, the score reached 8-0.

Mount Mercy's offense continued to shine in the fifth inning, where Terpins doubled and scored on an error. Graves added two more runs with a double, while Nick Meyer contributed a two-RBI single, pushing the lead to 14-0 by the end of the fifth inning.

On the mound, Jack Turgasen led the pitching staff, striking out eight over five innings and allowing only one hit. Cole Bormann closed the game with four strikeouts in two innings of work.

Graves recorded two doubles and drove in three runs, while Einertson scored twice and added an RBI. Knock contributed two runs and two RBIs. Darius Sparks led Graceland with two hits, while Kellen Cameron pitched 3 1/3 innings, striking out three batters.

The next challenge for the Mustangs arrives at 1 p.m. CT Saturday, April 25, when they face Graceland in Lamoni with the hopes of securing the top seed in the Heart tournament next week.