[Softball] Mustangs Drop Three Close Battles, End Weekend with Win
DAVENPORT, Iowa. – The Mustangs competed in another full weekend of softball at the Saint Ambrose Dome. Losing three games by just one run, the Mustangs bounced back ending the weekend with a win by the 10-run rule. After this weekend, the Mustangs move to 3-5 on the season.
On Saturday, the Mustangs kicked off the weekend against the Fighting Bees of Saint Ambrose University. Crossing home plate first in the top of the third inning, the Mustangs grabbed the lead. The Mustangs held the lead for two innings until the home team struck in the bottom of the fifth with two runs of their own. Unable to produce a run the following two innings, the Mustangs fell 1-2. Offensive leaders in the game were Jolona Shield (SR/Lawrence, Kan.) going 1-for-3 with a double and Payton Bruner (JR/Cedar Rapids, Iowa) going 1-for-3 with one RBI. In the circle, Jayna Witzany (FR/Cottage Grove, Minn.) went the duration of the game pitching all six innings allowing two run, one earned, on three hits, walking three, and sitting down six, but was handed the loss.
In the second game of the day, the Mustangs battled into extra innings with the Saints of Aquinas College, who received votes in the current NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll, but came up short 3-4. The Mustangs struck first in the bottom of the first with the Saints answering in the top of the second. The Saints jumped ahead in the top of the fifth with the Mustangs forcing extra innings after tying it up in the bottom of the seventh. The Saints would secure the win after scoring in the top of the eighth and keeping the Mustang offense at bay in the latter half of the inning. Offensive leaders for the Mustangs were Bruner, Jessica Miller (SR/North English, Iowa), Tawny Menster (SR/Olin, Iowa), and Morgan Braughton (SO/Marion, Iowa) all collecting two hits. Menster would also add one RBI to the box score. Madelyn Irwin (JR/Orange Park, Fla.) got the start on the mound going five innings allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits, walking two, and striking out one. Anna Stenberg (SO/Atkins, Iowa) came in to relieve and would receive the loss after allowing one run on two hits, walking one, and striking out one.
On Sunday, the Mustangs returned to the diamond to face the Saints once more in a battle falling short again with a 7-8 loss. The Mustangs were quick to score in the top of the first, but were answered by two Saints' runs in the bottom of the inning. Tying the game in the top of the third the Mustangs would not hold the lead for long as the Saints jumped back ahead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. A big fifth inning for both teams would start with the Mustangs tying it up after crossing the plate twice. However, the Saints answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning. The Mustangs nearly completed the comeback but fell one run short after scoring two in the top of the sixth and one in the seventh. Offensive leaders in the game were Jess Heick (SO/Solon, Iowa) going 3-for-4. Bruner, Miller, and Shield all collected two hits with one RBI. Menster and Stenberg both went 1-for-3 with one RBI. Witzany pitched 3.2 innings allowing four runs on eight hits, walking one, and striking out two. Stenberg would come in to throw for just one out allowing two runs on two hits, resulting in a loss. Irwin came in relief to pitch the remainder of the game allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits and striking out two.
In the final matchup of the weekend, the Mustangs defeated the Lynx of Lincoln College 10-0 with all 10 runs coming in the bottom of the second inning. The game would be cut to five innings as the 10-run rule went into effect. Offensive leaders included Bruner going 1-for-3 with one RBI, Emily Oler (SO/Cedar Rapids, Iowa) going 2-for-2 with a two-run homerun, Shield going 2-for-2 with two RBI, Sydney Robertson (SR/Shellsburg, Iowa) going 2-for-2 with one RBI, Heick going 1-for-2 with one RBI, Menster going 1-for-2 with one RBI off a triple, and Miller collecting one RBI. Menster pitched the duration of the game getting the shutout allowing just one run while throwing it past nine.
Up next, the Mustangs will travel to Wichita, Kan. for five games in the Friends Tournament on Friday and Saturday, Mar. 1-2.