Witzany ties career win mark as Mustangs sweep

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Jayna Witzany tied Mount Mercy's career win record in a 2-0 victory in Tuesday's opener and Kalli Minger tossed a complete-game, five-hitter as the Mustangs completed the sweep of Graceland, 3-1, in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader at Busse Field.

Witzany (15-3) scattered four hits over seven innings while striking out 13 and walking one in her 10th shutout of the season. She also moved to 55 wins in her career, tying Gwen Weber's school record set in 1997. Natalie Tecklenburg and Makenna Moenk had RBI base hits in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Witzany all the support she needed. Moenk, Rylee Goodfellow, Allie Poston, and Mikayla Fritz all finished with two hits each.

The Mustangs got another strong start from Minger (10-7) in game two. She went the distance, allowing one earned run on five hits while striking out nine with one walk. After Graceland (10-26, 6-17 Heart) took the lead in the third inning, Jade Sharp earned a bases-loaded walk to score Poston in the fourth and Goodfellow's infield single later in the frame plated Moenk and pinch-runner Carlie Goddard to end the scoring. Moenk and Tecklenburg had two hits apiece for Mount Mercy.

The Mustangs (26-13, 19-5 Heart) face Graceland again this weekend, this time in Lamoni on Saturday at 1:00 pm. They move on to Peru, Neb., on Sunday to take on Peru State (11-27, 6-21 Heart), also at 1:00 pm.