Heart Baseball Conference Tournament: Day Two Recap

OZARK, Mo. – Day two of the Heart of America Conference Tournament has come to a close as MidAmerica Nazarene and William Woods still stand in the winner's bracket, while Missouri Baptist, Mount Mercy, Clarke, and Central Methodist stay alive in the consolation bracket.

Game 5: No. 4 Clarke Defeats No. 8 Peru State, 13-1 (7 Inn.)

And eight-run fifth inning propelled Clarke to a 13-1 win over Peru State on Friday. David Jacobo got the win on the hill for the Pride, throwing five innings and allowing just one hit. Caleb Calcut and Derek Jenk then threw an inning each and each gave up just one hit. Kevin Diaz took the loss for Peru State, while four other pitchers also threw in the game.

Clarke scored early and often in this one, scoring one in the first on a single from Ethan Hefel, one in the second on a double from Brady Lord, and three runs in the fourth inning on singles from Eric Hebert and Darin Eales.

The offense for Clarke then exploded in the fifth inning, highlighted by RBI singles from Jaiden Russin, Eales, and Hefel to push the lead to 13-0 in the fifth inning. Peru State was able to avoid the shutout in the bottom of the sixth with a single from Wrigley Strong but couldn't avoid the run-rule as Clarke won in seven innings, 13-1.

With the win, Clarke advances in the consolation bracket and will now take on No. 7 Central Methodist at 1:30 p.m., on Saturday, May 2. With the loss, Peru State's tournament has come to an end.

Game 6: No. 2 Mount Mercy Defeats No. 6 Grand View, 13-6

Another 13-run game came in game two of the day, but this time from Mount Mercy as they defeated Grand View, 13-6. Cole Bormann threw four relief innings and earned the win to move to 2-1 on the year, while Jack Turgasen started and allowed five runs on seven hits. Matt Kelliher also pitched an inning for the Mustangs. Grand View had four pitchers throw in the game, but Josh Stoll received the loss after allowing eight runs, with only four earned.

Three doubles in the first inning from Christian Graves, Sam Wiese and DJ Harris helped get things going for Mount Mercy, as they took a 5-0 lead after one inning. Grand View was able to cut the lead to 5-1 on a double from Bryce Stalder in the bottom of the second, but Graves picked up his second hit of the game in the third with a solo home run to push it back to 6-1.

Grand View would not go away as Jaden Drill singled to score two in the third, but Graves stayed hot in the fourth with a two-run double for his fifth RBI of the game to extend the lead to 8-3 before the Mustangs added three more in the fifth to make it 11-3.

After three runs for Grand View in the fifth, Mount Mercy put the game away with two more runs in the sixth and the ninth to win the game 13-6.

With the win, Mount Mercy advances in the consolation bracket and will take on No. 1 Missouri Baptist at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, May 2. With the loss, Grand View's tournament has come to an end.

Game 7: No. 5 MidAmerica Nazarene Defeats No. 1 Missouri Baptist, 8-6

A back-and-forth battle in the winner's bracket as No. 5 MidAmerica Nazarene came away with an 8-6 win over Missouri Baptist. Jaymal Bonilla earned the relief win for MNU, while Giancarlo Cortez picked up his fourth save of the year.

Kaden Owens got MNU on the board first with a two-out two-run home run as the Pioneers took a 2-0 lead. In the very next half inning, Sam Paule singled to left and cut the lead in half, 2-1.

Owens then stepped to the plate again in the third and doubled down the line to score two, followed by singles from Christian Ramos and Ryan Martinez to push MNU's lead to 6-1. Carlos Hidalgo came up clutch in the top of the fourth with a three-run home run, putting Missouri Baptist right back in it, 6-4.

After Ronnie Rowley homered to right-center, Missouri Baptist scored two runs to cut the lead to just one, 7-6. A bases loaded walk to Owens in the eighth was enough for MNU to hold onto an 8-6 lead and come away with the win.

With the win, MNU moves advances in the winner's bracket and will take on No. 3 William Woods at 5:00 p.m., on Saturday, May 2. With the loss, Missouri Baptist will take on No. 2 Mount Mercy at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, May 2.

Game 8: No. 3 William Woods Defeats No. 7 Central Methodist,

A one-run game closed out day two of the Heart of America Conference Tournament as William Woods came away with a 4-3 win over Central Methodist. Brayden Groseclose threw seven innings for the Owls, allowing three runs on 10 hits, while Parker Ausin and Ayden Gates each threw an inning and Gate earned the save. Jeremy Yanow threw all nine innings for CMU, allowing just five hits in the game.

Scoreless through 4.5 innings, Dawson Foster broke the scoreless tie with a double down the right field line to give CMU a 1-0 lead. Before the end of the fifth, a double play scored a run and the Eagles led the Owls, 2-0.

William Woods took over the lead in the top of the seventh inning, scoring four on three singles from Evan Rainey, Aidan Gaither, and Sam Russo, giving the Owls a 4-2 lead. Central Methodist was able to cut it to 4-3 on an error in the bottom of the seventh, but CMU was unable to tie the game in the eighth or ninth and William Woods came away with the win, 4-3.

With the win, William Woods advances in the winner's bracket to take on No. 5 MidAmerica Nazarene at 5:00 p.m., on Saturday, May 2. With the loss, No. 7 Central Methodist moves into the consolation bracket and will take on No. 4 Clarke at 1:30 p.m., on Saturday, May 2.