Walkoff Run Propels Mustangs to Split Doubleheader

MELBOURNE, Fla. - Late game heroics in the nightcap was enough to propel the Mustangs to split Sunday's doubleheader, falling to Aquinas by a score of 4-0 before taking down Hannibal-LaGrange by a score of 4-3.

Game One

The Mustangs (6-7) saw hits from four different players in the first game on Sunday, coming by way of Natalie Tecklenburg, Allie Poston, Annika Headington, and Callie Janik. Tecklenburg saw her hit come in the third inning on a one-out triple to left field, but the bats weren't able to drive in the run. Following three more hits in the seventh, the Mustangs had bases loaded with two outs but a pop up to the Aquinas shortstop stopped a run from coming in.

Aquinas drove in their first runs on a two RBI double to center field from Courtney Hardin, as Aquinas jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Emma Houseman drove in a run on a groundout, and a double steal in the bottom of the sixth inning saw Aquinas drive in a fourth.

Sophia Pavese earned her fifth win of the season, pitching all seven innings while allowing just four hits and striking out three. Kalli Minger dropped her record to 3-4, pitching six innings while allowing four runs and striking out four.

Game Two

Raquel Trolliet had a big game in the nightcap, going 2-3 from the plate while scoring the game-winning run in the seventh inning. The Mustangs also saw four different players drive in runs in the win.

Hannibal-LaGrange got the scoring started in the top of the first inning on a sacrifice groundout, taking a 1-0 lead over the Mustangs early. Mount Mercy would answer back as an error from the shortstop would drive in Ashley Smith, tying up the game. In the fourth inning, Rylee Goodfellow drove in a run on a sacrifice fly as the Mustangs took their first lead of the game.

Hannibal-LaGrange would respond in the top of the sixth, as Anita Kraus drove in a pair of runs on a single, as the Trojans took the lead right back from the Mustangs. Following a sacrifice fly in the sixth, the game headed to the final frame. In the bottom of the seventh, Trolliet got on base. Following a passed ball and a wild pitch, the Mustangs had a runner on third with nobody out. Trolliet would come across to score on a sacrifice play from Ashley Smith, as the Mustangs would win by a final of 4-3.

Alyssa McElvain earned her fourth win of the year, pitching all seven innings while allowing eight hits and stirking out three. Sabrina Morgan was tabbed with the loss for the Trojans, allowing the final run in the seventh and striking out one.

The Mustangs will be back in action against Southeastern University in Lakeland on Tuesday.