Dordt Shuts Out Mount Marty in 3-0 Victory
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – A dominant pitching performance and a clutch sixth inning lifted Dordt to a 3-0 victory over Mount Marty on Saturday. The Defenders (14-19, 3-8 GPAC) used a combined shutout from three pitchers and timely hitting to secure the win, while the Lancers (16-11, 5-6 GPAC) struggled to generate offense.
Eubanks Leads Strong Dordt Pitching Effort
Dordt starter Matthew Eubanks was nearly unhittable through 5.1 innings, allowing just two hits while striking out seven. Though he walked six batters, he worked his way out of trouble to keep the Lancers off the scoreboard.
Ty Neugebauer (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K) picked up the win in relief, while Drew De Vries recorded the final two outs to earn his third save of the season.
Scoreless Battle Until the Sixth
Both teams were locked in a pitcher's duel through five innings, with Mount Marty's Slayder Watterson matching Eubanks by keeping Dordt off the board. Watterson allowed three runs on seven hits over 5.1 innings, striking out four.
Dordt finally broke through in the sixth. Gabriel McFarland reached base and came around to score when Logan Templeton delivered an RBI double to left-center. Drew Oreskes followed with a double down the left field line, scoring Caleb Beard to make it 2-0. DJ Kerr capped off the rally with an RBI single to center, bringing home Cameron Grimes for a 3-0 lead.
Lancers Struggle at the Plate
Mount Marty was held to just three hits in the game, with Ryan Bachman, Shugo Kondo, and Jalen Owens providing the only offense. Despite drawing eight walks, the Lancers were unable to capitalize, grounding into a double play and leaving runners stranded.
Game Notes:
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Dordt outhit Mount Marty 8-3, with Templeton, Oreskes, and Kerr each driving in a run.
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Eubanks threw 105 pitches over 5.1 innings, showing resilience despite control issues.
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Mount Marty's best scoring chance came in the fourth when they put two runners on, but Eubanks worked out of the jam with a strikeout.
The Lancers have now dropped back-to-back games after winning their previous three.
Mount Marty Falls to Dordt 9-5 After Late Surge
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Mount Marty dropped the second game of the series against Dordt, falling 9-5 after the Defenders used a five-run third inning and a late four-run rally to seal the win. The Lancers (16-12, 5-7 GPAC) struck early but couldn't hold off Dordt (15-19, 4-8 GPAC), who racked up 12 hits and took advantage of Mount Marty's miscues.
Lancers Start Hot but Dordt Answers
Mount Marty jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning. Ryan Bachman led off with a solo home run, and Aidan Chang executed a sacrifice bunt to score Jalen Owens, giving the Lancers an early boost. In the second, Lucas Kampshoff extended the lead to 3-0 with a solo homer.
However, Dordt responded in the third inning with a five-run outburst. After a sacrifice fly from Matthew McMillian put the Defenders on the board, Logan Templeton delivered a two-run double to tie the game at 3-3. Morgan Wilkins followed with a two-run home run, giving Dordt a 5-3 lead that they wouldn't relinquish.
Mount Marty Battles, But Late Dordt Rally Seals It
The Lancers cut the deficit to 5-4 in the sixth after an error by Dordt allowed Will Gardner to score. Despite several opportunities, Mount Marty couldn't regain the lead, stranding 11 runners on base.
Dordt put the game out of reach in the eighth, with Wilkins launching his second homer of the game to make it 6-4. Jimmy Twombly added a two-run single, and an error by Mount Marty allowed another run to score, stretching the lead to 9-4.
Daniel Vonnegut drove in a run for the Lancers in the ninth, but it was too little, too late as Dordt closed out the win.
Pitching Struggles for Lancers
Palmer Jacobs (4-2) took the loss, surrendering five runs on eight hits over four innings. Jacob Walker was solid in relief, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings before Zach Hegge allowed four runs (three earned) in the eighth.
For Dordt, Mike Bruell (1-3) earned his first win of the season, allowing three runs (two earned) over four innings. The bullpen held strong, with Nolan Armstrong and Ty Neugebauer combining for three scoreless innings before Drew De Vries closed it out in the ninth.
Game Notes:
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Ryan Bachman led Mount Marty with a 3-for-5 performance, including a homer and a double.
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Dordt's Morgan Wilkins powered the offense with two home runs and three RBIs.
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The Lancers struggled to capitalize on opportunities, leaving 11 runners on base.
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Mount Marty committed one error, while Dordt's defense had three miscues.