Cedar Rapids, Iowa - The Viterbo University Baseball team won two out of three games this weekend against Mount Mercy College as the V-Hawks sit just one game back of first place in the Midwest Collegiate Conference.

The V-Hawks lost in game one of the series opening double-header on Saturday by the score of 16-6 as the Mustangs scored eight first inning runs. Howard Heinrich (Jr. - Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.) picked up the loss for the V-Hawks after allowing 11 earned runs on nine hits in just 1.1 innings of work. Nick Lenzendorf (Sr. - Eastman, Wis.) went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBI despite the 10 run loss.

Viterbo turned things around quickly in the second game as they ended up on the winning side of a 12-9 ball game. Despite trailing 7-4 after two innings, the V-Hawks put up two runs in the third and four runs in the fifth to take a 10-9 lead. Viterbo would add two insurance runs in the top of the seventh courtesy of a solo home run by Eli Tupuola (Sr. - San Diego, Calif.) and a sacrifice fly by Brett Moravec (Jr. - Boulder City, Nev.).

Kyle Dreger (Sr. - Manitowoc, Wis.) would earn the win on the mound for the V-Hawks as he pitched the final 3.1 innings in relief of starting pitcher Drew Farrell (Jr. - Middleton, Wis.). Dreger allowed just one earned run on five hits while striking out three Mustang batters.

Viterbo took control early in the final game of the series on Sunday as Shawn Loch (Sr. - Suamico, Wis.) led off the game with a home run. The V-Hawks would go on to put up five runs in the first two innings to take a 5-0 lead.

After giving up three runs in the bottom of the third, the V-Hawks found their offense again in the following inning as they scored four runs highlighted by a two-run home run by Brett Rettenmeier (Jr. - Cedar Rapids, Iowa).

Viterbo would allow four more runs in the sixth inning but it wasn't enough as the V-Hawks were able to hang on for the 11-7 victory. Earning the win on the mound was starting pitcher Brent Peotter (So. - Menasha, Wis.) who allowed six earned runs in 5.1 innings for the V-Hawks.

Leading the V-Hawks offensively this weekend were Tupuola who went 9-for-13 (.692) with a home run and three RBI, Lenzendorf who went 5-for-12 (.417) with five RBI, and Brandon Buelow (Jr. - Milwaukee, Wis.) who finished 5-for-10 (.500) with six RBI.

Viterbo now holds a 21-14-1 overall record and a 9-5 MCC record. The V-Hawks sit in third place in the standings a half-game behind William Penn and a full game behind Grand View. The V-Hawks are next in action on Tuesday as they travel to Decorah, Iowa to take on Luther College.