Aggressive Mustangs take charge early, cruise into Heart final

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Third-seeded Mount Mercy took a 2-0 lead right out of the gate then added a pair of insurance runs later in support of Jayna Witzany as the Mustangs handed top-seeded Central Methodist their first loss of the Heart of America Athletic Conference Softball Championship, 4-0, on Saturday afternoon at Busse Field.

Mount Mercy put the pressure on the Central Methodist (37-5) defense early and the ninth-ranked Eagles were not up to the challenge. Two fielding errors led to a pair of Mustang runs, the first on a squeeze bunt by Michelle Mack to score Rylee Goodfellow and the second from a Keily Ulatowski base hit to left-center field that plated Sam Lee.

Ulatowski was the catalyst again in the fourth, leading off the inning with a single to right field. In a weird turn of events, the Central Methodist pitcher and first baseman couldn't decide who should field a bunt single by Alyssa Niketopolous, which turned into a two-run play that made it 4-0.

That was plenty for Heart Pitcher of the Year Witzany, who scattered five hits over seven innings with eight strikeouts and no walks. Witzany (23-3) has pitched every inning of the tournament for the Mustangs, going 3-0 with 29 strikeouts and just two bases on balls. Over 22 innings of work, she has allowed only two earned runs on 14 hits for a 0.64 ERA.

Mount Mercy (35-17) looks to defend its Heart of America softball tournament title on Sunday against either Central Methodist or fourth-seeded Evangel. The Eagles and Valor square off Saturday evening for a spot opposite the Mustangs. Either team will need to beat Mount Mercy twice to earn the tournamen championship.