Mustangs punch ticket to Nationals after advancing to Heart Championship

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. - The Mount Mercy softball team did not lose a beat after dropping their first game of the Heart of America Athletic Championship to top-seeded and 15th-ranked Central Methodist (Mo.) 8-1, earlier today. The Mustangs bounced right back, defeating second-seed and seventh-ranked Baker (Kan.) for the second time in the tournament to advance to the Heart Championship series tomorrow. 

Natalie Tecklenburg opened the semifinals with a single and later scored on a Calli Janik double to give Mount Mercy an early 1-0 lead over Central Methodist. The Eagles tied it up in their half of the inning and then shut down the Mustang offense for the final six frames. Tecklenburg tallied two hits with Rylee Goodfellow, Abbey Smith, and Janik each recording one. 

With the loss, the Mustangs had a rematch with Baker, this time as an elimination game. The first inning had the feel of the 10-inning, back-and-forth game from 24 hours ago. The Wildcats scored first, but the Mustangs answered right back loading the bases. Allie Poston delivered with a single through the right side to score Sam Lee who drew a walk earlier in the inning.

Jade Sharp's bunt single in the fourth was the spark Mount Mercy needed. Tecklenburg stayed hot on the day, registering her biggest hit of the tournament, an RBI single to center, scoring Sharp to put Mount Mercy in front 2-1. Unlike yesterday's game, the Mustangs weathered the storm after taking the lead and did not let Baker (44-9) back in the game. Yesterday, the Wildcats scored both of their runs via stolen bases, but Poston was not to be denied this time around. She threw out two Baker runners, none bigger than Kerstyn Finch in the top of the fifth to shut down their threat. 

Jayna Witzany allowed a runner in the first five innings, giving up four walks and four hits. Witzany (21-6) proved why she is the Heart Conference Pitcher of the Year for the second straight year by retiring the final six Wildcat batters in order. With her four strikeouts, she eclipsed 300 strikeouts on the season for the third consecutive year. Witzany is third in the NAIA for strikeouts (301) and sixth in the country in ERA (0.94). Mount Mercy got production up and down the lineup as seven different Mustangs recorded a hit. Lee and Sharp each scored a run while Poston and Tecklenburg both finished with an RBI. 

Mount Mercy gets another opportunity against Central Methodist (37-10) tomorrow, Sunday, May 7 at 11:00 am at Cavaness Field. The Mustangs will need to beat the Eagles twice to win the tournament. If necessary, game two will immediately follow game one. With Central Methodist winning the regular season, Mount Mercy (32-17) earns the Heart of America's second automatic berth to the NAIA National Tournament, regardless of the result of tomorrow's Championship series. The Mustangs will be making their second appearance to the NAIA National Tournament in the last three years.