April 17, 2019

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Morningside (Iowa) raced to an 11-0 lead after the first two innings in each game Wednesday at Lewis & Park Stadium, earning a non-conference doubleheader sweep over Dakota State (S.D.) 14-0 and 14-2.  The Mustangs outhit the Trojans 21-5 for the day.

Dakota State fell to 3-29 overall record.  Morningside, a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, improved to 22-13 overall record.

Game 1 – Morningside (Iowa) 14, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL

Morningside held Dakota State to just one hit in the first game of the doubleheader, cruising to a 14-0 shutout victory.

The Mustangs poured in 10 runs in the first inning, producing seven hits (with five hits being extra-base hits).  Nic Metcalf hit a 2-run home run to put Morningside up 10-0 with two outs in the bottom first.

Adam Carlson hit an RBI single in the bottom second to extend MC's lead to 11-0.

Morningside ballooned their lead to 12-0 after Andrew Kasperbauer's RBI double in the bottom half of the third frame.  The Mustangs plated two runs in the fifth inning to widen their lead to 14-0.

Jerrett Plunkett hit a single in the top sixth inning for Dakota State.

Alec Gannon, Fabian Boria, Ryan Jackovich and Justin Odlum each recorded a walk for the Trojans.

Kasperbauer finished the game by going 3-of-4 at the plate with two doubles, single and three RBIs for the Mustangs.  Sam Huska added two doubles and an RBI.  Metcalf had a home run, three walks, scored four runs and collected two RBIs.  Shea Patterson had a triple and two RBIs.

MC tallied 10 hits in the game.  The Trojans committed five defensive errors compared to the Mustangs' two defensive miscues.  Morningside left nine runners on base, while Dakota State had six runners left on base.

Andrew Dayton (L, 0-1) tabbed the setback on the pitching mound for DSU after working for two outs in the first inning.  Micah DeHarty tossed 3 2/3 innings in relief, giving up four runs (three unearned) on three hits.  Roman Escobedo pitched 1 2/3 shutout innings in relief.

Jordan Kyle started the game for MC, tossing two shutout innings.  He recorded five strikeouts and issued two walks.  Brennan Myers (W, 1-0) earned the victory in relief, tossing five scoreless innings.  He registered three strikeouts and allowed a hit.

Game 2 – Morningside (Iowa) 14, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL

Morningside jumped to a 6-0 lead in the first inning of the second game, thanks to a pair of 2-RBI singles by Kasperbauer and Braden Smutz.

The Mustangs added five runs in the bottom second fame as the lead grew to 11-0.

Dakota State snapped their scoring drought with a run scored in the top fourth.  Chris Burke led off with a walk.  Alec Gannon followed up with a single and advanced Burke to second base.  Plunkett hit a fly out to advance Burke to third base.  Marcos Alvarez produced an RBI single with two outs to score Burke as the Trojans trailed 11-1.

Morningside answered with a run in the bottom half of the fourth inning.  Carter Kratz hit an RBI double to make it 12-1 in favor of MC.

Smutz added a 2-RBI double in the bottom fifth to widen Mustangs' lead to 14-1.

Plunkett reached safely on base caused by MC's defensive miscue in the top sixth inning.  He swiped to second base.  Alvarez hit an RBI single to score Plunkett as the Trojans cut Mustangs' lead to 14-2.

Alvarez finished the game by going 2-of-3 at the plate with two singles and two RBIs for Dakota State.  Fabian Boria and Gannon each added a single.  Burke and Plunkett each scored once.  Plunkett swiped one base.

Smutz led Morningside with a double, two singles and drove in a game-high five RBIs.  Kasperbauer added a double, single and three RBIS.  Kratz had a double and an RBI.  Huska, Levi Davidson, Jordan Pierce, Derrick Johnson and Brandon McClintock each recorded a hit.

MC outhit DSU 11-4 in the game.  The Mustangs left eight runners on base compared to the Trojans four runners on base.

Jared Urbach (L, 0-1) took the loss on the pitching mound, tossing one-plus inning for DSU.  Steven Suarez pitched four innings in relief, recording four strikeouts.  Trey Randel worked a shutout sixth inning.

Camden Parks pitched tossed three shutout innings to start the game for MC.  Jake Cera (W, 2-0) earned the victory after pitching two innings in relief.  He gave up one run on three hits.  Shea Patterson worked the final two innings, giving up an unearned run on one hit.  He recorded five strikeouts.

Up Next

Dakota State takes a break from the North Star Athletic Association conference this weekend.  The Trojans won't return back to action for their final non-conference regular-season contest, visiting NCAA Division I North Dakota State on Tuesday.  First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo, N.D.

DSU is scheduled to return home next Wednesday (April 24) versus No. 25-ranked Bellevue (Neb.) in the North Star Athletic Association conference doubleheader at Flynn Field.  First game is slated for 2 p.m.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director