Mustangs win two in outdoor debut

WICHITA, Kan. - For the first time this season, the Mount Mercy softball team got to play outside. The Mustangs competed in the Friends U Round Robin on Friday and Saturday at the Two Rivers Complex. Mount Mercy beat Doane (Neb.) 4-1 on Friday night, followed by a 1-0 win over host, Friends (Kan.) on Saturday morning, before falling to 22nd-ranked Midland (Neb.) 5-3 Saturday afternoon. 

The Mustangs did their work early in their outdoor opener, scoring one in the second and three in the third. Rylee Goodfellow's successful squeeze bunt plated Keily Ulatowski to put Mount Mercy on the board. An inning later, Allie Poston went deep for her first home run of the season, scoring Natalie Tecklenburg. Calli Janik's sacrifice fly scored Makenna Moenk. Jayna Witzany  gave up four hits in seven innings of work, striking out 12, and didn't allow a run until the sixth. Moenk was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate and scored a run. 

Despite only recording three hits against Friends, Mount Mercy capitalized on a lead-off walk from Janik. Ashley Smith came in to pinch run and immediately stole second base. A wild pitch put her on third, where Raquel Trolliet's infield single allowed Smith to score. Witzany (5-1) scattered five hits in the complete game shutout. She struck out six and walked two. Tecklenburg, Trolliet, and Goodfellow collected the Mustang hits. 

Consecutive singles from Trolliet and Goodfellow got the second inning started for Mount Mercy against Midland. The Warriors committed an error a batter later, allowing both Mustang runners to score for the early 2-0. Midland scored two of their own in the bottom half on a Mustang miscue and three walks. The next two innings were scoreless for both teams. The Warriors broke it open in the fifth, plating two more and adding another in the sixth. Mount Mercy had runners in scoring position in the final two innings, but couldn't bring them home. The Mustangs outhit the Warriors nine to seven. Tecklenburg and Janik each recorded two hits apiece. Kalli Minger (1-3) went five strong innings, giving up five runs on five hits. Piper Brant pitched a scoreless sixth. 

Mount Mercy has a week off before their Spring Break trip to Tennesse and Kentukcy. The Mustangs will travel to four different schools, playing a doubleheader each day.

Monday, Mar. 13: Bethel (Tenn.) at 3:00 pm in McKenzie, Tenn.

Tuesday, Mar. 14: Fifth-ranked Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) at 3:00 pm in Henderson, Tenn.

Wednesday, Mar. 15: Cumberland (Tenn.) at 3:00 pm in Lebanon, Tenn. 

Friday, Mar. 17: Brescia (Kent.) at 2:00 pm in Owensboro, Tenn.