Perez’s Shutout Highlights Four-Game Split as Graceland Wraps Up Series with Clarke
NORWALK, Iowa – The Graceland University baseball team wrapped up a four-game weekend series against Clarke University with a 1-0 win in Game 1 on Sunday before falling 10-0 in the series finale. The Yellowjackets and Pride split the series 2-2, with Graceland now sitting at 10-11 overall and 4-4 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, while Clarke moves to 8-9 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
Game 1: Graceland 1, Clarke 0
Behind a dominant performance from Gabriel Perez, the Yellowjackets took the third game of the series in a 1-0 shutout victory. Perez threw a complete-game, four-hit shutout, striking out four and walking just two over seven innings while also delivering the game's only RBI at the plate.
Key Moments: Third Inning: Matthew Klonsinsk singled to right field, then advanced on a hit-by-pitch and stolen bases. With two outs, Perez lined a single up the middle, bringing Klonsinsk home for the game's only run. Seventh Inning: Clarke threatened with the tying run on base after a leadoff walk, but Perez forced a double play and a groundout to seal the win.
Graceland's Offensive Leaders: Gabriel Perez: 1-for-3, RBI Zachary Tanabe: 1-for-2, BB, SB Matthew Klonsinsk: 1-for-2, R, SB
Pitching Summary: Gabriel Perez (W, 2-2): 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K Clarke's** Connor Possehl (L, 1-1) took the loss, despite allowing just three hits and one run over five innings.
Game 2: Clarke 10, Graceland 0
Clarke responded in the final game of the series with a 10-0 shutout victory, using a five-run seventh inning to put the game out of reach. Graceland's offense was held to just four hits as Clarke's Ethan Hefel pitched a complete-game shutout.
Key Moments: First Inning: Clarke struck early, with Andrew Reynozo's two-run single giving the Pride a 2-0 lead. Second Inning: A wild pitch scored a run, followed by a two-run single from Jayson Hattori, extending Clarke's lead to 5-0. Seventh Inning: Clarke tacked on five more runs, including RBI hits from Hattori, Reynozo, and Wynton Ramirez, pushing the final score to 10-0.
Graceland's Offensive Leaders: Gabriel Perez: 1-for-3 Edwin Narvaez: 1-for-3 Rafael Jerez: 1-for-3 Carson Chiprez: 1-for-3
Pitching Summary: Isaiah Rabelo (L, 0-2): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K Robinson Severino: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 0 K Hefel (W, 2-1)** went the full seven innings for Clarke, allowing just four hits while striking out two.
Weekend Recap
The series split leaves Graceland and Clarke at 4-4 in conference play, as both teams secured two wins over the four-game weekend slate. The Yellowjackets won Saturday's second game 5-3, behind a strong outing from Kendry Cardejon, and closed the series with Perez's dominant shutout victory on Sunday. Clarke's offensive outbursts in Game 1 on Saturday (10-3) and Game 2 on Sunday (10-0) proved to be the deciding factors in their two wins.
Coach Brad Payne's Comments
"We showed a lot of fight this weekend," said head coach Brad Payne. "It's always tough to go up against a team like Clarke in a four-game series, and to come out with a split shows that we're competing at a high level. Gabriel Perez gave us an incredible performance in Game 3, and our guys made plays behind him. The biggest thing for us is consistency—we need to find ways to be better at the plate and limit big innings from the opposition. This series gives us a good benchmark as we move forward into the season."
Next Up
The Yellowjackets will step out of conference play Monday, traveling to Fremont, Nebraska, for a nine-inning game against Midland University. Graceland will then return home for its first home series of the season against Benedictine College this weekend.
For more information on Graceland baseball and all Yellowjackets athletics, visit GUjackets.com.