Mustangs take two to open conference play
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Missouri Valley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
|
Mount Mercy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Missouri Valley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
|
Mount Mercy | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | 3 | 7 | 1 |
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Mount Mercy softball team remained unbeaten at home this year after picking up two wins against Missouri Valley on Saturday at Busse Field. The Mustangs defeated the Vikings 1-0 and 3-1 to begin Heart of America Athletic Conference play.
Missouri Valley's Kim Horsten kept the Mount Mercy lineup quiet striking out seven through four innings. The Mustangs didn't register a hit until a lead-off bunt by Abbey Smith in the bottom of the fifth, but she was stranded on the bases. It wasn't until the sixth inning that Mount Mercy produced a run. After Allie Poston was hit by a pitch and with two outs, Rylee Goodfellow came up clutch with a RBI double to deep right center, scoring Poston from first. The one run lead was all Jayna Witzany needed as she sat the Vikings down in order in the top of the seventh. Witzany (8-3) scattered just two hits and three walks while striking out 10 in her second straight complete game shutout.
Unlike the first game, Mount Mercy's offense got on the board early. Poston hit her second home run in the first inning, putting the Mustangs up 1-0. Mount Mercy tacked on another run two innings later after three straight singles off the bats of Jade Sharp, Ashley Smith, and Natalie Tecklenburg. Kalli Minger mirrored Witzany from the first game, keeping the Missouri Valley offense scoreless. The Vikings didn't get to her until the sixth where they capitalized on a two singles, a walk, and a Mustang error to cut the deficit in half, 2-1. The Mustangs responded in their half of the inning as a double by Poston set up Goodfellow's RBI infield single to give Minger more run support. Missouri Valley brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh, but Minger (3-5) got a flyout to end the game. Tecklenburg and Poston each finished with two hits to lead Mount Mercy.
The Mustangs travel to Kansas for two doubleheaders against Heart of America South Division opponents. Mount Mercy (13-8, 2-0 Heart) plays Benedictine (12-15, 2-2 Heart) on Saturday, Apr. 1 at 1:00 pm in Atchison followed up an opportunity against fourth-ranked Baker (22-2, 2-0 Heart) on Sunday, Apr. 2 beginning at 1:00 pm in Baldwin City.