[Softball] Mustang's Heart Championship Run Ended by Ravens

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Mustangs run in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship was brought to an end this afternoon at Busse Field. After falling behind in the first inning, the Mustangs were never able to recover from the deficit. The sixth-seeded Ravens of Benedictine College defeated the fifth-seeded Mustangs 4-1.

After advancing out of two previous elimination games this week, the Mustangs ran out of steam in the third. In the top of the first inning, the Ravens plated two on a double to deep left-center field. In the latter half of the inning, the Mustangs score their one and only run after singles from Jess Heick (SO/Solon, Iowa) and Jolona Shield (SR/Lawrence, Kan.) followed up with a RBI single by Tawny Menster (SR/Olin, Iowa). The two teams remained scoreless until the last two innings when the Ravens would secure the win with a run in both the sixth and seventh. In addition to the first-inning base hits, Morgan Braughton (SO/Marion, Iowa) went 2-for-3 at the plate while Emily Oler (SO/Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Audrey Grove (FR/South English, Iowa) both contributed one hit to the Mustangs total of eight. Madelyn Irwin (JR/Orange Park, Fla.) got the start on the mound and would receive the loss after pitching four innings allowing two runs, one earned, on nine hits while walking none and striking out five. Jayna Witzany (FR/Cottage Grove, Minn.) came in as relief to pitch the final three innings allowing two runs on four hits while walking one and sitting down five.

The Mustangs end the 2019 season with a 32-22 overall record.