Mustangs Edge Ravens in Opener, but Fall in High-Scoring Finale

ATCHISON, Kan. - Mount Mercy's softball team opened conference play with a doubleheader split against the Benedictine Ravens, edging out a 5-4 victory in game one before dropping game two, 10-5. 

GAME ONE

The Mustangs took game one of the series, 5-4, in a come-from-behind fashion. 

With the first and second innings remaining frozen at zero, the Ravens would cross the first runs in the bottom of the third with Alena Velilla sending a ball long for a two-run shot to put the Ravens up 2-0.

The Mustangs answered back in the top of the fourth as Calli Janik recorded a sacrifice fly ball that allowed Ashley Smith enough time to cross the plate, bringing the scoreboard to 2-1. Megan Forsman's sacrifice fly extended the Ravens' lead in the fifth before Ryan Cooper launched a solo shot, making it 4-1. 

Smith roped a double to bring in Raquel Trolliet, followed by Janik's sacrifice fly, trimming the Ravens' lead to 4-3. After shutting down the Ravens in the sixth, Rylee Goodfellow came through in the clutch, ripping a two-RBI single to put the Mustangs ahead. The Mustang defense prevented the Ravens from scoring in the bottom of the seventh to seal their 5-4 victory in game one. 

Mount Mercy's Maggie McNally earned another victory, pitching 2.2 innings and allowing two hits while striking out a pair of Raven batters. Bailey Selvage took the loss, pitching a full seven innings and giving up five runs despite striking out five Mustangs. 

GAME TWO

The Ravens forced the series to split with a game two 10-5 victory over the Mustangs. 

In the first inning alone, both teams scored a combined 10 runs. The Mustangs opened the scoring with Annika Headington reaching first on an error that allowed Smith to score. Following Headington, the Mustangs plated three more runs that put them up 4-0 heading into the bottom half. The Ravens found their bats hot in their opening at-bats, with Kaelyn Fisher hitting an RBI single starting the Ravens' six-run inning. 

Being down 6-4 in the second inning, Headington connected with the ball for an RBI single to put the Mustangs down by one, for a 6-5 boxscore. The Ravens extended to a 7-5 lead as Cooper recorded a double that was enough to bring in two Raven baserunners. 

With a three-run sixth inning, spearheaded by Amanda Waymire with an RBI single, the Ravens forced the doubleheader split with a 10-5 victory. 

Ashley Webb claimed the loss from the circle, pitching 0.1 innings that allowed six Raven runs on four hits. Lily SinghDhillon pitched a full seven innings, allowing five Mustangs to be plated on eight hits while striking out nine batters. 

Mount Mercy (9-13, 1-1 HEART) is back on the field on Sunday to take on the Baker Wildcats in Baldwin City, Kan., with game one starting at 1:00 p.m.