Tyler Nagelbach, Jaden Hackbarth have served as leaders for Mount Mercy baseball

CEDAR RAPIDS – Tyler Nagelbach and Jaden Hackbarth have thrived in their second seasons at Mount Mercy.

Nagelbach has transitioned from reliable reliever to a starter this season, leading the Mustangs in victories. Hackbarth went from limited starts behind super seniors to the team’s hits leader.

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Both played a vital role in the Mustangs success Friday. Hackbarth ripped a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10 th and Nagelbach pitched eight shutout innings for a no-decision in a 1-0 win over Heart of America Athletic Conference leader Grand View in the opener of a doubleheader at Plaster Athletic Complex. The Vikings earned the split with a 9-6 victory in the nightcap.

“That was a real big win for us,” Mount Mercy Coach Jack Dahm said. “That’s one of the premiere offenses in the country. Tyler pounded the strike zone and we made some tremendous defensive plays behind him. Then in the 10 th inning we finally got the big hit from Jaden.”

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Nagelbach started his 11 th game this season and owns a 6-2 record. He stifled the Vikings on a cold, windy and overcast day, giving up just three hits. He was very efficient, especially early, throwing less than 30 pitches through the first three innings. Nagelbach didn’t give up a hit through the first five innings and allowed only one base runner.

“Our pitching coach (Blake) Willenborg gave us a really good scouting report,” Nagelbach said. “Just getting ahead and keeping them off balance. My catcher, Nick Meyer, just did a good job calling a game and stuck to it and worked out.”

Nagelbach made a big impact from the bullpen last season, going 3-1 in 34 innings pitched and 16 overall appearances last year. Dahm said he planned to move Nagelbach back to the bullpen this weekend but injuries forced him to take the mound in Game 1 of the series against Grand View.

“I was ready for the opportunity,” Nagelbach said. “I had a lot of fun.

“I’ve been starting all season long. It was going to change this week but I was ready to go. It was the same old normal day.”

Neither team could manage runs through the first 9 ½ innings. In the last half-inning, The Mustangs’ Cedric Dunnwald was plunked with two outs. A wild pitch and passed ball advanced him to third with Hackbarth at the plate. He worked the count full before delivering the game-winning single to left.

“I knew he was throwing a lot of breaking balls,” Hackbarth said. “It was clear that was the pitch he was most comfortable with so I was kind of hoping he’d throw a curveball on the last pitch that I hit.

“I knew he had a good fastball but that was his (best) pitch. I was able to stay back, get the barrel on it, keep it low and it got through a hole.”

Hackbarth, the Mustangs’ leadoff hitter, has a team-best 53 hits. He also ranks among the team leaders in runs (37), doubles (nine), home runs (six) and RBIs (29).

“This year he’s been our leader,” Dahm said of Hackbarth. “His work ethic is off the charts. He’s come up with a lot of big hits for us and he’s a very unselfish player who is going to be prepared. We’re happy for him. He deserves to be an all-conference player for us. He’s done a good job for us. You know he’s going to compete every time.”

In the nightcap, Josh Notriano went 4-for-4 and Bryce Brown had two hits, including a home run, to lead Mount Mercy (28-18, 20-10).

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