February 24, 2024

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Morningside (Iowa) used a pair of five-run innings production early in the game Saturday, earning a 10-2 Wildcat Classic baseball opener victory over Dakota State (S.D.) at PBR Homefield Baseball Complex.  The Mustangs held the Trojans to three singles in the game.  The tournament is being hosted by Baker (Kan.).
Dakota State dropped their second straight game, falling to 7-2 overall record.  Morningside, a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, lifted their overall record to 4-1.

DSU looks to snap their losing skid as they play another contest against GPAC foe, (RV) Doane (Neb.).  The game is set for 2 p.m. at PBR Homefield Baseball Complex.

Morningside (Iowa) 10, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL

Morningside poured in five runs in the opening inning, highlighted by Aiden Bishop's 2-RBI double, followed by Ryan Kiolbassa's RBI single.  The Mustangs capped the bottom first with an RBI sacrifice bunt by Cade Nolan for 5-0 lead.

The Mustangs plated five more runs in the bottom third frame.  With bases loaded, Luke Froehlich recorded an RBI hit-by-pitch to extend MU's lead to 6-0.  Nolan followed up with an RBI double to give the Mustangs a 7-0 lead.

Morningside ballooned their lead to 10-0 in the bottom third after Jacob O'Dell's RBI single and Jayson Willers' 2-RBI double.

Dakota State snapped their scoring drought with two runs in the top seventh inning.  Cory Brownson led off with a walk and advanced to second base after Bubba Thompson's single.  Ned Ceklic added a walk to set up a bases loaded situation for the Trojans.

Dawson Portner produced an RBI sacrifice fly to score Brownson as the Trojans trailed 10-1 in the top seventh.  Aidan Perry followed up with an RBI single to score Thompson as DSU trimmed MU's lead to 10-2.

Dakota State left two runners on base when the game ended, securing the victory for the Mustangs.

Perry collected a single and an RBI for the Trojans.  Thompson and Walker Hultgren each added a single.  Ceklic recorded two walks.  Brownson had a walk and a run scored.  Thompson scored a run.  Ryan McDaniel had a walk.

Bishop tallied a double, single, two RBIs, and scored twice for the Mustangs.  Willers and Nolan each added a double and two RBIs.  O'Dell had a single and an RBI.  Eddie Brancato and Giacomo Crosetti each registered a single.

Nicholai Arbach (L, 1-2) took the defeat on the pitching mound for DSU, working for 2 1/3 innings.  Curtis Flint pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief, recording four strikeouts.  Aiden Rocha pitched two shutout innings in relief.

Kai Purdy-Burton (W, 2-0) earned the victory after pitching six innings for MU.  He limited the Trojans to one single and registered six strikeouts.  Trey Hansen pitched the seventh inning, giving up two runs on two hits.