Embry-Riddle struggled to keep the Morningside Mustangs off the scoreboard in a double header at Eagle Baseball Field on Sunday as the Mustangs won both games. They won the first game 14-3 and the second 11-4.
Game 1
The Mustangs came out swinging, scoring five runs in the first inning. Embry-Riddle's starting pitcher, Brody Gundert, struggled to find his rhythm, allowing five hits and seven runs over 2.2 innings.
Embry-Riddle's offense showed signs of life in the fourth inning when James Warren doubled to left field, driving in Roberto Garza-Nunez. Blake Moore followed with another double, bringing Warren home and cutting the deficit to 9-2. However, the Mustangs responded with two runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth, extending their lead to 14-2.
The Eagles managed to add one more run in the sixth inning. Owen Cain doubled to left field and was replaced by pinch-runner Owen Montgomery who later scored on a single by Warren. Despite their efforts, the Eagles couldn't close the gap, and the game ended with a final score of 14-3.
Embry-Riddle's pitching staff faced a tough challenge against Morningside's relentless offense.
On the offensive side, Warren led the Eagles with two hits and two RBIs.
Game Highlights:
- J. Warren (Embry-Riddle): 2-for-2, 2B, 2 RBIs
- B. Moore (Embry-Riddle): 1-for-3, 2B, RBI
Game 2
The game started with Morningside taking an early lead in the first inning. The Mustangs' Wilt and Blackmon each hit solo home runs off Embry-Riddle's starting pitcher, Noah Tschopp, giving Morningside a 2-0 advantage.
Embry-Riddle responded in the bottom of the second inning when Elijah Pak drew a bases-loaded walk, bringing home Warren and cutting the deficit to 2-1. However, the Mustangs extended their lead in the top of the second inning with a four-run outburst, highlighted by a two-run double from M. Delzell and an RBI single from T. Gibbar.
The Eagles struggled to contain Morningside's offense, as the Mustangs added two more runs in the fourth inning with another home run from Wilt. Embry-Riddle's pitching staff faced challenges throughout the game, with Tschopp, Jonah Montes, and Spencer Rego all taking the mound in an attempt to stifle the Mustangs' bats.
Embry-Riddle showed resilience in the fifth inning, scoring three runs to narrow the gap. Miles Murphy tripled to right field and later scored on a passed ball. Moore then delivered a two-run homer, bringing the score to 8-4. Despite this offensive surge, the Eagles were unable to sustain the momentum.
Morningside continued to add to their lead, with Wilt hitting his third home run of the game in the sixth inning. The Mustangs' pitching, led by T. Sanchez, S. Zamora, and S. Hanson, kept the Eagles' hitters in check for the remainder of the game.
Key Performances:
- Embry-Riddle: B. Moore (1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI), M. Murphy (1-for-4, 3B, R), J. Warren (1-for-3, 2B, R)
- Morningside: S. Wilt (3-for-3, 3 HR, 4 RBI), M. Delzell (1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI), T. Gibbar (2-for-3, 2 RBI)
ERAU will be home again on Tuesday afternoon for a 2pm start against Briar Cliff.
