Mustang
BASEBALL FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022
Morningside University looks to rebound from a tough-luck weekend series defeat at the hands of Mount Marty University as Concordia University visits Mercy One Field at Lewis and Clark Park this afternoon. The Mustangs (17-10 overall, 4-8 GPAC) open a set of four games in three days with the doubleheader against the defending loop champion Bulldogs. A trip to the University of Jamestown for a Sunday, April 10, double-dip follows today’s matinee.
THE SERIES CU has a slight 6-4 edge dating back through 2016. In that timeframe, the margin of victory has been four-runs-or-less in the last seven meetings. Morningside maintains a 21-16 all-time lead.
THE MATCH-UP Head coach Adam Boeve’s squad still has a strong road towards a potential high seed for the 2022 league postseason tournament. With 16 contests remaining, Mside is only one game behind Northwestern College, Midland University, and Jamestown for a three-way knot for eighth and just two games behind Dordt University for a spot in the top five. The Mustangs enter the weekend ranked among the league’s first five offensively, on the mound and on the field. Their .303 team batting average is tied for third-best with Midland. The staff’s 4.97 earned run average is the last of the sub 5.00 marks. The team’s .964 fielding percentage also has a spot in similar territory, being tied for third with Briar Cliff. Freshman catcher Jayson Willers and sophomore infielder Eddie Brancato are one-two for the squad’s batting average lead. Willers sports a .376 mark with a team-leading 29 RBI included. Brancato is at .371 with 24 RBI and a team-best nine doubles. With six home runs, freshman utility player Alex Calabrese also provides plenty of spark. On the hill, the sophomore starting duo of Wade Canaday and Quintin Holman remain two of the best in the league, as Canaday is 4-1 with a 3.48 ERA and 37 strikeouts, and Holman is 3-0 with a 3.19 ERA and 36 strikeouts. Bullpen standout Jordan Kyle is among the GPAC’s best save-wise (four). Concordia’s path to a 22-7-1 overall and co-GPAC-leading 11-1 mark has been forged with a fearsome offense. Head coach Ryan Dupic’s crew has belted 59 home runs and 71 doubles towards 307 runs scored, which are easily atop the conference. They come into the twin bill on a run of five straight contests with 10-or-more runs scored. The sophomore infield combination of Jayden Adams and Jaidan Quinn boasts 11 home runs apiece and a combined 73 RBI. Sophomores Alex Johnson and Caden Bugarske have produced nine victories and 68 strikeouts for the pitching staff. Mside returns home following Sunday’s games at Jamestown and a nineinning clash at non-conference foe Bellevue University Tuesday, April 12, for a league doubleheader against Dordt Thursday, April 14. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Morningside Mustangs NO. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 23 31 33 34 36 37 38 39 41 42 48 49 50 51
NAME Carter Kratz Brian Garcia Alex Calabrese Gunnar Kale Elijah Rude Eddie Brancato Cole Wilcox Aiden Bishop Hunter Jenkins Caleb Thomson Jayson Willers Carter Ades Josh Thurman Zach Hefty Jackson Stephen Colby Seuntjens Quintin Holman Wade Canaday Hunter Hope Joe Harris Braden Smutz Tom Leathem Josh Pratt Kai Purdy-Burton Zack Paulsen Will Brandner Trey Hansen Jacob O’Dell Braxton Hinders Aidan Agosta Jordan Kyle Zak Scott
POS. INF SS INF/P 2B/C C/1B INF INF/P P/INF OF OF/P C UT P OF OF/P P P INF/P OF 3B/P C P P P UT P P/INF INF P OF P INF
YR. Sr. So. Fr. So. Jr. So. Fr. Jr. Jr. So. Fr. Jr. Fr. So. Fr. Jr. So. So. Sr. Fr. Sr. Fr. So. Fr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Sr. So.
HOMETOWN Vermillion, S.D. Burbank, Calif. Omaha, Neb. Merced, Calif. Hudson, Wis. Arlington Heights, Ill. Columbus, Neb. Lincoln, Neb. Bakersfield, Calif. Libertyville, Ill. Davenport, Iowa Sioux Falls, S.D. Surprise, Ariz. Baltic, S.D. Cowichan Bay, B.C. Danbury, Iowa Nebraska City, Neb. Marshalltown, Iowa Sioux City, Iowa Marshalltown, Iowa Lake Stevens, Wash. St. Albert, Alberta LeMars, Iowa Pasadena, Calif. Mapleton, Iowa Worthington, Minn. Ankeny, Iowa Northridge, Calif. Carlisle, Iowa Omaha, Neb. Lake Park, Iowa Mapleton, Iowa
REMAINING SCHEDULE Apr 10 Apr 12 Apr 14 Apr 16 Apr 19 Apr 23 Apr 24 Apr 30 May 1
Jamestown* Bellevue Dordt* Doane* Peru St. Northwestern* Dakota Wesleyan* Hastings* Hastings*
1 p.m. 4 p.m. – Single nine-inning game 5 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 3 p.m. 12 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m.
Home games in bold *Great Plains Athletic Conference game All dates doubleheaders unless noted
Head coach: Adam Boeve Assistant coaches: Adam Hilker, Justin Malenosky, Nate DeChaine
Concordia University NO. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 20 21
NAME Nathan Buckallew Kyle Berg Ben Berg Jose Cevallos Anderson Xapsos Darrell Kundinger Teyt Johnson Jayden Adams Caleb Lemon Shane Whittaker Alec Blakestad Tanner Tompkins Ty Nekoliczak Keaton Candor Carlos Benavides Jake Davey Jaidan Quinn Joey Grabanski Jacob Lycan Christian Gutierrez
POS. P OF C INF INF INF/P INF INF INF P INF/P C INF OF INF P INF/P INF P P
YR. Sr. So. Jr. So. Sr. So. Jr. So. So. Jr. So. Fr. Fr. Sr. So. So. So. So. So. Fr.
HOMETOWN Urbandale, Iowa Carroll, Iowa Carroll, Iowa Upland, Calif. Gasport, N.Y. San Antonio, Texas Indianola, Iowa Waverly, Neb. Bellevue, Neb. San Diego, Calif. Omaha, Neb. Normal, Ill. Greeley, Neb. Merrill, Iowa Aurora, Colo. O’Fallen, Mo. Bonner Springs, Kan. Grand Forks, N.D. Omaha, Neb. La Miranda, Calif.
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 33 34 35 36 37 38
Jackson Eaton Daniel Rivera Michael Welch Caden Johnson Alex Johnson Jimmy Juergensen Jesse Garcia Cale Mathison Andrew Bohrer Thomas Otte Curtis Flint Jakob Faulk Qwin Zabokrstky Ben Martin Ben Coldiron Caden Bugarske
P P C P P 1B INF P P INF/P P INF P C OF/P P
So. Jr. So. So. So. Jr. Jr. So. Fr. Jr. So. So. Fr. So. So. So.
Olathe, Kan. Poughkeepsie, N.Y. San Diego, Calif. Papillion, Neb. Olathe, Kan. Cedarburg, Wis. El Cajon, Calif. Boerne, Texas Lincoln, Neb. Lincoln, Neb. Omaha, Neb. Atwater, Calif. Beatrice, Neb. Parker, Colo. Gretna, Neb. Boerne, Texas
Head coach: Ryan Dupic Assistant coaches: Caleb Lang, Wade Council, Tanner Wauhob, and Logan Ryan
MUSTANGS
The Morningside University experience cultivates a passion for lifelong learning and a dedication to ethical leadership and civic responsibility.
MUSTANGS
The Morningside University experience cultivates a passion for lifelong learning and a dedication to ethical leadership and civic responsibility.