[Baseball] Mustangs, Eagles split at Metrodome

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The Mount Mercy baseball team opened the 2012 season by splitting a doubleheader with Judson (Ill.) over the weekend at the Metrodome.

The Mustangs out-hit the Eagles, 12-10, but a four-run second inning by Judson led to a 6-4 Eagle victory in Sunday's opener. Four Mustangs had multi-hit games, led by junior second baseman Scott Thornton, who went 3-for-4 with a run batted in.

Senior catcher Rafael Del Rio was 2-for-3 with an RBI, junior third baseman Jacob Thompson had two hits and scored twice and senior shortstop David Rodriguez went 2-for-5 for Mount Mercy. Junior right-hander Phil Hotchkiss (0-1) allowed five earned runs on seven hits while striking out three in four innings of work.

A pair of run-scoring singles in the bottom of the third inning by senior catcher Paul Franco and senior designated hitter Kevin Turner led the Mustangs to a 3-2 win over the Eagles (1-3) in game two. Franco also scored senior left fielder Alex Heumann with a sacrifice fly in the first inning to account for Mount Mercy's other run.

Junior right-handers Abraham Carrasco (1-0) and Saul Zambrano combined on a four-hitter for the Mustangs (1-1). Carrasco went five innings, surrendering two earned runs and four hits. Zambrano earned his first save with two innings of hitless and scoreless relief.

Mount Mercy heads back to Minneapolis this weekend for a four-game set with Bellevue (Neb.). The Mustangs and Bruins will play two on Friday at 5:00 p.m. and another twinbill on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at the Metrodome.