Mustangs Drop Two in Season Opener

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa - The Mount Mercy softball team dropped a pair of games in the season opener on Friday afternoon to Midland 3-0 and Northwestern 3-1. 

GAME 1

Pitching proved to be a key factor in the Mustangs' season-opening loss to Midland, 3-0. Midland's Paeton Coler secured the win for the Warriors, striking out 11 Mustangs while allowing just one walk and only two hits in the contest. The Mustangs' Ashley Webb struck out six Warriors despite allowing eight hits.

Midland opened the scoring in the top of the first inning when Kamdyn Barrientos tripled to right field, driving in a run and giving the Warriors an early 1-0 lead. In the next at-bat, Aja Henderson hit a two-run homer, extending Midland's lead to 3-0 over the Mustangs.

Despite Midland's early lead, the Mustangs battled back defensively, holding the Warriors to just three runs and stranding seven Midland runners on base. 

GAME 2

The Mustangs were led offensively by Calli Janik, who recorded two hits, and Abbey Smith, who drove in the team's only RBI of the game.

Northwestern took the lead in the second inning when Maddie Kvatek hit an RBI single, bringing in Ashtyn Billings for a 1-0 advantage. The Red Raiders extended their lead to 2-0 in the third inning after a Mustang error allowed another run to score.

In the fourth, the Mustangs responded with Abbey Smith hitting a single to center field, bringing Calli Janik home and narrowing the gap to 2-1. However, Northwestern added another run in the bottom of the fourth, sealing the win with a final score of 3-1.

The Mustangs will be back in action on February 8 for another doubleheader matchup facing off against Waldorf at 9:00 a.m. and Morningside at 11:00 a.m.