Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 A narrow loss in game one of their doubleheader with Morningside in Sioux City led to a sweep for the Mustangs in GPAC play on Friday afternoon, March 20.  The losses drop Dordt to 1-5 in the GPAC and 11-15 overall. Dordt will host Northwestern on Saturday.

Game 1: Morningside 10, Dordt 9
Box Score (PDF)

The Dordt Defenders fell just short of a dramatic comeback, dropping a 10-9 heartbreaker to Morningside in a game defined by high-powered offenses and defensive miscues. Despite out-hitting the Mustangs 14-2, Dordt was undone by 10 walks and four errors that allowed Morningside to capitalize on limited opportunities.

Morningside seized control in the second inning, plating five runs on only one hit by taking advantage of three Dordt errors, three walks, and a hit-by-pitch. The Defenders spent the rest of the afternoon chipping away at the lead. Stephen Dillender led the charge with two home runs and four RBIs, including a two-run blast in the second and another in the fifth.

Down 9-6 entering the final frame, Dordt mounted a fierce rally. Drew Oreskes led off the seventh with a solo home run, and RBI singles from Jarett Herz and Jimmy Twombley tied the game at 9-9. However, the Mustangs snatched the win in the bottom of the sixth after a walk and an error allowed the deciding runs to cross the plate.

Team Stats Comparison

• Hits: Dordt 14 / Morningside 2
• Errors: Dordt 4 / Morningside 2
• Left on Base: Dordt 9 / Morningside 4
• Strikeouts (Pitching): Dordt 7 / Morningside 10
• Walks Issued: Dordt 10 / Morningside 1

Dordt Individual Leaders

• Hits: Stephen Dillender (3), Jimmy Twombley (2), Logan Templeton (2), Joey Schlesselman (2), Jarett Herz (2)
• RBIs: Stephen Dillender (4)
• Runs Scored: Stephen Dillender (2), Jimmy Twombley (1), Ryan Vann (1), Drew Oreskes (1), Braden Biggar (1), Jarett Herz (1)
• Strikeouts (Pitching): Bennett Spronk (5)

 
Game 2: Morningside 14, Dordt 3
Box Score (PDF)

In the finale, Morningside's bats erupted for five home runs to hand Dordt a 14-3 loss in seven innings. The Mustangs utilized three massive innings to pull away early and often, ending the Defenders' hopes for a series split.
Morningside broke a scoreless tie in the second with a pair of three-run homers from Michael Delzell and Romani Perez. They added three more in the fourth and a final five-run surge in the fifth, highlighted by a Michael Snyder grand slam.

The Dordt offense struggled to find a rhythm against Morningside starter Kai Purdy-Burton, who went six innings while allowing just two runs. The Defenders' scoring came via the long ball, with Stephen Dillender hitting his third home run of the day in the sixth and Jimmy Twombley adding a solo shot in the seventh.

Team Stats Comparison

• Hits: Dordt 10 / Morningside 13
• Errors: Dordt 2 / Morningside 2
• Left on Base: Dordt 7 / Morningside 8
• Strikeouts (Pitching): Dordt 7 / Morningside 6
• Walks Issued: Dordt 9 / Morningside 0

Dordt Individual Leaders

• Hits: Jarett Herz (2), Jimmy Twombley (2), Chisum Demmers (2)
• RBIs: Jimmy Twombley (2)
• Runs Scored: Joey Schlesselman (1), Stephen Dillender (1), Jimmy Twombley (1)
• Strikeouts (Pitching): Ty Neugebauer (2), Parker Wilson (2)