Mount Mercy Completes Sweep Over Graceland

LAMONI - The Graceland University Baseball team dropped their final two games in the four-game set with Mount Mercy University yesterday afternoon in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Graceland now falls to 5-15 and 1-9 in conference play.

GAME 1 (L 5-2)

Mount Mercy took the first lead of the contest in the bottom of the third inning. The Yellowjackets gave up three unearned runs to give the Mustangs a 3-0 lead. In the top of the fourth, Graceland got one of those runs back to cut the lead to 3-1.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Mustangs scored two more off of just one hit to give themselves a four-run cushion. Graceland was able to score late to trim their deficit, but it was not enough.

As a team, Graceland outhit the host Mustangs 6-2 but had three errors defensively. Aaron Hassell started the game on the mound and went the first five innings and struck out five. He gave up just one hit and allowed only three earned runs. Trevor Brace pitched the sixth inning and did not allow a run. Tanner Maskey led the Yellowjackets offensively going 1-3 with a two-run home run for Graceland's only runs of the game.

GAME 2 (L 8-7)

The Mustangs would take the first lead of the game in the nightcap as well. Through the first three innings, they held a 3-0 lead before Graceland was able to get on the board. Graceland put up a four-spot in the top of the fourth to take a 4-3 lead.

The Yellowjackets then added two more in the top of the fifth to push their advantage to 6-3. Mount Mercy responded by getting those two runs back to cut the deficit back down to one run. In the bottom of the sixth, Mount Mercy strung together three hits which led to three runs and an 8-7 lead. Graceland had the tying run on base in the final inning, but were unable to score leading to the Mustang victory.

Anthony Moore started game two on the bump for the Yellowjackets. He went four innings while striking out six and got a no-decision in the outing. Matt Reyes, Bryan Paez, and Chalin Dassau each had a pair of hits for Graceland. Collectively, the Yellowjackets totaled nine hits in game two.

Graceland will now return home for their next contests. They are set to host William Penn University in a four-game series beginning Friday afternoon at Chase Stadium. Friday's doubleheader will begin at 2 p.m. and then a 1 p.m. start to finish the series on Saturday.

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