[Baseball] Extra inning win clinches series with V-Hawks

LA CROSSE, Wis. -- Junior catcher Rafael Del Rio's two-run single in the top of the 10th inning sparked Mount Mercy's 4-1 victory over Viterbo (Wis.) on Sunday, clinching a Midwest Collegiate Conference series win by the Mustangs.

Junior first baseman Jeremy Glunt singled, stole second and scored on junior designated hitter Paul Franco's base hit to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. The V-Hawks got that run back in the bottom of the fifth and the game remained tied until Mount Mercy's rally in the 10th.

Junior shortstop David Rodriguez singled to lead off the 10th and advanced to second on a bunt single by senior second baseman Albert Diaz. Glunt moved the runners over with a groundout to second, then, after an intentional walk to Franco, Del Rio came through with the two-run single. A squeeze bunt by junior right fielder Brent Pankow plated Mount Mercy's third run of the inning, and senior right-hander Eric Bearbower got the final out of the game to secure the victory.

Franco went 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs in Mount Mercy's 4-2 win over the V-Hawks in Saturday's opener. His home run capped off a three-run sixth for the Mustangs. Rodriguez also collected a pair of hits, and Glunt and junior center fielder Dustin BeGuhn each drove in a run. Sophomore righty Phil Hotchkiss (2-4) picked up the complete-game victory after allowing two earned runs on seven hits and striking out four.

Viterbo (15-18, 5-8 MCC) used a two-run sixth inning to earn their only victory in the series, a 3-1 decision over the Mustangs (16-14, 8-7 MCC) in Saturday's nightcap. Rodriguez had two of Mount Mercy's six hits in the loss. Senior right-hander Derrick Weber (5-3) got the loss despite surrendering just one earned run on three hits in six innings.

A single, nine-inning contest with Waldorf is scheduled on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. in Forest City. Mount Mercy welcomes Iowa Wesleyan to town for a three-game series this weekend. The Mustangs and Tigers have a doubleheader slated for Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and a nine-inning game scheduled on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Ken Charipar Field at Xavier High School.