Mustangs win all four during Heart road trip

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The Mount Mercy softball team has won four straight and 6-of-7 after sweeping Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheaders this weekend at Peru State and Park.

The Mustangs outscored the Bobcats, 19-0, in Saturday's doubleheader. A three-run fourth and 10-run sixth inning ended game one early by a score of 13-0. Keily Ulatowski blasted a grand slam, Sara Heick hit a two-run shot, and Ashley Smith added a two-run double. Kalli Minger (8-11) struck out four in a complete-game, three-hitter.

Mount Mercy scored twice on wild pitches in the third, Annika Headington had an RBI triple and Sam Lee a sacrifice fly in the fourth, and Ulatowski added a two-run single in the fifth in a 6-0 win in game two. Alyssa McElvain scattered four hits over seven innings with four strikeouts.

Lee's RBI single in the eighth was the game-winner as the Mustangs edged the Pirates, 5-4, in Sunday's opener. She finished 2-for-4 with three runs batted in, Headington went 3-for-4, and Calli Janik also had a pair of hits in the win. Megan Steffens (2-0) threw a perfect 2-1/3 innings in relief of Minger to get the victory.

Mount Mercy erased a 2-1 deficit with a pair of runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh in a 5-2 triumph in the second game. Natalie Tecklenburg went 2-for-2 with a solo homer and Allie Poston tallied a two-run single for the Mustangs. McElvain (12-8) picked up another win, scattering four hits while allowing one earned run over seven innings.

Mount Mercy (23-19, 11-9 Heart) closes out the regular season with six straight games at home this week, beginning with a non-conference doubleheader with St. Ambrose on Wednesday at 5:00 pm at Busse Field.