[Baseball] Errors prove costly for Mustangs

CAMANCHE, Iowa -- Seven Mount Mercy errors led to nine unearned runs by Ashford in an 11-7 Saints victory over the Mustangs in Midwest Collegiate Conference action on Wednesday at Camanche High School.

Mount Mercy grabbed an early lead on junior first baseman Jeremy Glunt's RBI single in the top of the first inning. It was short-lived, as Ashford capitalized on five hits and three Mustang errors to score seven times in the bottom of the frame to take a 7-1 advantage.

The Mustangs added a run in the second inning and two more in the fourth to cut the deficit to 7-4, but that was as close as they would get. A three-run sixth inning put the game away for the Saints, who improved to 10-13 overall and 3-0 in the MCC. Mount Mercy fell to 7-10 overall and 1-3 in league play.

Glunt finished 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Junior right fielder Brent Pankow, junior designated hitter Paul Franco, senior second baseman Albert Diaz, and senior center fielder Eric Bearbower had two hits apiece for the Mustangs, who out-hit the Saints, 13-9.

Senior left-hander Brandon Gosse (1-3) got the loss after giving up seven runs on three hits in 2/3 of an inning. Only two of those runs were earned. Junior righty Dustin BeGuhn went 5 1/3 innings in relief, allowing no earned runs and four hits while striking out four and walking five. Junior right-hander Ben Keeney wrapped up the game with two scoreless innings.

Mount Mercy hosts Waldorf in an MCC doubleheader on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at Ken Charipar Field at Xavier High School. The games will be shown on KCRG Local 9.2 in eastern Iowa, the first-ever live broadcast of Mustang baseball.