Ninth-inning
rally sinks Mustangs
Posted
4/6/08 11:30 PM
Justin Kleinsmith |
Peter Dietrich |
CEDAR RAPIDS,
Iowa -- Junior center fielder Justin Kleinsmith's RBI single in
the bottom of the eighth inning gave Mount Mercy College a one-run
lead, but Viterbo University (Wis.) responded with three runs
in the top of the ninth and defeated the Mustangs, 5-3, on Sunday
at Ken Charipar Field.
The V-Hawks
(20-6, 10-2 MCC) were able to capitalize on 14 errors by Mount
Mercy (8-23, 1-8 MCC) while sweeping the three-game, weekend series.
Viterbo, which defeated the Mustangs, 6-2 and 3-2 on Saturday,
has won five games in a row. Mount Mercy has dropped five straight
since a 5-3 victory over St. Ambrose University in game two of
a doubleheader on March 29.
Sophomore
first baseman Peter Dietrich and junior designated hitter Justin
Rarick each drove in a run in Saturday's 6-2 defeat. The Mustangs
had four errors, which didn't help junior right-hander Sean McIntosh
(1-1). He went six innings for the Mustangs, allowing three earned
runs on seven hits while striking out three and walking three.
Mount Mercy
stranded 13 baserunners and committed four more miscues in a 3-2
loss in the nightcap. Kleinsmith's two-run triple in the bottom
of the fourth inning gave the Mustangs a short-lived 2-1 lead.
Viterbo tied it in the top of the fifth and then scored an unearned
run in the seventh to get the win. Senior righty Tim Abbott (1-6)
didn't allow an earned run, scattering eight hits over seven innings
for Mount Mercy.
Viterbo drew
first blood on Sunday with a run in the top of the fourth inning,
but the Mustangs grabbed the lead in the bottom of the frame on
a two-run homer by Dietrich. Mount Mercy gave it right back in
the fifth, however, committing one of their six errors as Viterbo
tied the game at 2-2. Kleinsmith's run-scoring single in the eighth
looked like it might save the Mustangs, but two more miscues in
the top of the ninth led to three unearned runs for the V-Hawks.
Mount Mercy
got a quality start from senior left-hander Jon Wilson and a solid
effort from its bullpen. Wilson surrendered only three hits and
one earned run in 6 1/3 innings. Junior righty Dylan Wieszciecinski,
senior right-hander Daniel Jones, and junior righty Logan Dicus
(1-2) allowed no earned runs and just one hit in 2 2/3 combined
innings of relief.
The Mustangs
look to end their losing skid at Waldorf College on Wednesday,
with an MCC doubleheader slated for 1:00 p.m. in Forest City,
Iowa. After a non-conference matchup with intra-city rival Coe
College on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. at Daniels Park in Cedar Rapids,
Mount Mercy hosts a four-game, league set with Grand View College
Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Ken Charipar Field.
