The Briar Cliff baseball dropped a pair of games against Morningside on Monday afternoon at Bishop Mueller Complex.
 
"We had a pair of tough games today", said head coach Corby McGlauflin. "We were right there in both games but couldn't find a way to get it done. We're hoping we can build some momentum this week heading into the conference tournament."
 
The Chargers now carry a 9-15 conference record.
 
Game 1 – L, 5-8
The Mustangs appeared in the scoring column first in game one with the help of a leadoff walk and a crucial Charger mistake in the opening frame. Kyler Steinborn and the BC defense played damage control, stranding two Mustangs on the bases and allowing only one run.
 
The Cliff's offense came out firing in game one as Cyler Melvin roped a one-out single through the right side and Jake Allen carded the first big-fly of the day. Allen knocked a two-run homer run to give BC the early 2-1 lead through one inning of play.
 
Following the scoreless second inning, Trey Rogers, Melvin, Allen and Jared Sitzmann each recorded singles in the bottom of the third to push three Chargers across home plate, extending their lead to 5-1. In the frame, Sitzmann tallied two RBIs and Allen added one.
 
In the top of the fourth, Morningside fought back with one run on two hits of their own to edge the score closer at 2-5. In the fifth, the Mustangs erupted for six runs on only three hits. In the inning, the Chargers gave up five walks and two extra-base hits as Morningside took the lead 8-5.
 
Carter Schorg was lock down on the hill the rest of the way for the Chargers. Schorg, appearing in the fifth inning, carded two strikeouts in both the fifth and sixth frame, while striking out the frame in the seventh.
 
Both defenses stood strong the rest of the way, ending the scoring at 8-5 in favor of Morningside.
 
As a team, the Blue and Gold out-hit the Mustangs 10-7. Melvin, Allen and Easton Cone tallied two hits each as four other Chargers carded one hit apiece. Allen led the way in the RBI column with three as Sitzmann followed closely with two.
 
On the hill, Steinborn threw 4.0 innings, allowing five hits and striking out three. Carter Schorg appeared in relief in the fifth inning. Schorg went 3.0 innings, allowing only one run on two hits, while striking out seven.
 
Game Two – L, 4-6
With a scoreless first inning in the books, Morningside hopped on the board first in the second inning behind a drawn walk and two hits. With two outs, the Mustangs found a timely RBI single up to right field, granting them the early 1-0 lead.
 
The duo of Melvin and Allen evened up the score in the bottom of the third. With one out, Melvin drew a walk and rounded the bases on an RBI double from Allen to knot up the score 1-1 heading into the fourth.
 
The Mustangs tallied another big inning on the day, scoring three runs on four hits in the top of the fourth. Morningside formed a two-out rally, stringing together three hits and a drawn walk to gain back a 4-1 lead. Austin Carter, appearing mid-inning in relief, carded a strikeout to strand three Mustangs on the basepaths and end the frame.
 
The Chargers responded immediately in the bottom half of the fourth. Cam Riemer laced a leadoff double to left-center field and was advanced to third on a wild pitch. He would later be driven in on an RBI groundout by Devon Farrell, cutting the deficit to two runs.
 
Following a scoreless fifth frame, the Mustangs added one run to their lead in the top of the sixth. In the inning, Morningside tallied two hits as the Chargers suffered a critical error. Going to the bottom of the sixth, the Cliff was now in a 5-2 hole.
 
Sitzmann led off the bottom of the sixth with a double down the right-field line. Sitzmann would later cross the plate on a Mustang mistake. With two outs and a runner in scoring position, pinch hitter Connor Lange and Rogers carded back-to-back singles to make it a one-run contest.
 
Morningside tallied a single and an RBI double in the top of the seventh frame to extend their lead to 6-4. Carter and the Cliff's defense buckled down to record a routine fly out and ground out to keep the game within reach.
 
The Chargers threatened in the last half-inning of the contest. With one out, Sitzmann and Riemer tallied back-to-back singles get the momentum going. Both baserunners were then advanced to second and third on a wild pitch with only one out. One base-hit away from tying up the game, BC couldn't find the timely hit as Morningside went on to win 6-4.
 
In game two, the Chargers recorded four runs on eight hits. Sitzmann and Riemer tallied two hits each as four other Chargers had one. Rogers, Allen and Jake Chronic each carded one RBI in the contest.
 
Matthew Hmielewski went 3.2 innings on the bump for the Chargers, where he allowed four runs on eight hits and struck out five. Carter threw the rest of the way, allowing two runs on four hits, while striking out four.
 
The Chargers continue their GPAC slate on Thursday afternoon when they travel to Crete, Nebraska to take on Doane in a doubleheader. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.