Mustangs exit conference tournament

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Sixth-seeded Mount Mercy got solid pitching efforts from Kalli Minger and Alyssa McElvain on Friday, but the offense struggled to put runs on the board as the Mustangs were bounced from the Heart of America Softball Championship at Busse Field.

The Mustangs out-hit third-seeded Benedictine in their tournament opener but left seven runners on base in a 4-1 loss to the Ravens. Ashley Smith had two of Mount Mercy's six hits and Calli Janik drove in their lone run with a double in the top of the third inning. Minger (9-13) went five innings, limiting Benedictine to four earned runs on five hits with a strikeout.

The loss dropped the Mustangs into the consolation bracket and an elimination game against second-seeded Baker, which got there from a 5-4 upset loss to seventh-seeded Missouri Valley. For the second game in a row, Mount Mercy stranded seven baserunners in a 3-0 defeat. Ashley Smith, Annika Headington, Allie Poston, and Abbey Smith each had base hit for the Mustangs. McElvain (12-10) scattered eight hits over six innings, surrendering three earned runs while striking out three.

With Mount Mercy and eighth-seeded Graceland eliminated, the tournament is down to six teams. Saturday's action starts at 9:30 am with Missouri Valley taking on Benedictine. After that, it's an elimination game between Baker and fifth-seeded Grand View at noon.