VERMILLION, S.D. -- The South Dakota Coyotes (21-13, 6-6 in the NCC) took a 5-4 decision in game two to earn a split with Morningside College (25-14, 6-6 in the NCC) in North Central Conference baseball on Monday at Prentis Park in Vermillion, S.D. Morningside won game one, 7-0.

The doubleheader was originally scheduled for Sunday, April 21 but weather forced postponement of the game to Monday afternoon.

Morningside starter Juan Pena (4-2) threw a three-hit complete game shutout in game one. Pena had four strikeouts and three walks. South Dakota starter Rob Miller (7-1) lost his first game of the season as he allowed six earned runs (seven overall) and eight hits in seven innings of work. He recorded seven strikeouts, had two walks and hit four batters.

In game one, the Mustangs opened up a 2-0 lead as Justin Combs and Zac Neppl hit home runs in the second inning. Morningside had added single runs in the third and fifth innings before scoring twice in the sixth inning and once in the seventh inning. The Mustangs had seven runs on eight hits and one error. South Dakota had no runs on three hits and one error.

Neppl had two hits and two RBI for Morningside. The Coyotes' hits were from Dean Devine (Seneca, Ill.), Horace Lawrence (San Francisco, Calif.) and Nate Dunlap (Northridge, Calif.).

In game two, junior pitcher John Brunswold (Apple Valley, Minn.) picked up his first save of the season by limiting Morningside to a single hit over the final three innings in the Coyotes' 5-4 win. Brunswold, who had a complete game win over Morningside on Saturday, recorded five strikeouts and walked just one hitter. Brunswold came on in relief of Albert Jones (Hercules, Calif.) in the fifth inning. Jones (5-3) allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits in four innings. He had four strikeouts and no walks.

Morningside jumped to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning but the Coyotes responded with three runs in their home half of the first inning to tie the game. For the Coyotes, Devine hit a RBI double to score Dustin Moore (South Sioux City, Neb.) who had opened the first inning with a double. Then, Rob Heisel (Melbourne, Fla.) singled to left field advanced Devine to third. On the ensuing at bat, Morningside committed a throwing error on a ground ball by Todd Dekkers (Hawarden, Iowa), which brought home Devine. After John Quade (Sioux City, Iowa) was hit by a pitch to lead the bases, Lawrence hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game.

The Coyotes took the lead for good on a two-run home run by Devine in the second inning. Morningside pushed across a run in the fourth inning but were shut down by Brunswold over the final three innings.

Devine led South Dakota with two hits in three at bats and had three RBI. Devine is now hitting .431 on the season with eight home runs and a team-high 32 RBI.

With the win, South Dakota improved to 6-4 in one-run games.

South Dakota will travel to North Dakota State on April 26 for a NCC doubleheader beginning at 1:30 p.m. The Coyotes also play at North Dakota on April 27 for a NCC doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.