Baseball Season Comes to Close in NAIA Opening Round

Baseball faced off with Mount Mercy (Iowa) on Tuesday evening in their second elimination game of the Lincoln Bracket tournament for the NAIA Opening Round. Unlike their morning outing where the Tigers led throughout, Doane was on the short end of a 5-3 decision as they fell behind early in the contest.

Mount Mercy scored a run in the first, one more in the second, and two in the third for a 4-0 lead. Doane came back with a run in the bottom of the third on a Logan Amick single. Nate Mensik scored on the play as the throw to third base was offline.

In the fourth inning, the Tigers were able to pull within a run. Aaron Vulcano delivered a sacrifice fly to drive in Justin Nevells and Mensik singled to plate Max Harris. The Mustangs were able to pick up a run in the top of the ninth on a single inside the third base bag for the final tally.

Kaden Crawford started and threw 2.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out two. Isaiah Miller threw the final 7.0 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three.

Doane was limited to four hits in the game, two from Mensik. The Tigers end their season with a 39-15 overall record.