Offense Breaks Out as Baseball Takes Opener from Morningside

Baseball hosted Morningside on Monday in a doubleheader in Crete. The Tigers fell behind early but bounced back quickly with the offense exploding in the middle innings. Doane defeated the Mustangs, 14-1, in the opening game.

Morningside scored a run in the first inning with a two-out double. Doane tied the game in the bottom of the inning with an RBI-double by Johnny Vulcano to plate Logan Amick. Aaron Vulcano followed with a two-out, RBI-single, to drive in his brother for the go-ahead run.

In the third inning, Johnny doubled to drive in Sam Kwapnioski for a 3-1 lead. Aaron then delivered another RBI-single to plate his brother. Gerald Nix capped the inning with a two-run double to drive in Aaron and Max Harris.

Doane broke the game open in the fourth inning with eight runs crossing the plate. Four runs scored on one swing of the bat as Harris delivered an opposite field grand slam. Kwapnoski drove in three runs with a bases-clearing double and Johnny Vulcano plated the final run with a double. It was Johnny's third double of the game, tying a single-game record.

Kaden Crawford started for the Tigers on short rest and went 1.0 inning, allowing one run on one hit and a walk while striking out one. Raidyn Steele followed with 6.0 shutout innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out one.

Doane finished the game with 16 hits, including seven doubles. Johnny Vulcano was 3-for-4 with three runs, three RBI, and three doubles. Kwapnioski was 2-for-3 with three runs and three RBI. Aaron Vulcano went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Harris was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI. Jordan Bond went 2-for-3 with a double.

Official game time was 2:06.