Mustangs and Spirit Trade Wins in Hard-Fought Doubleheader

SURPRISE, Ariz. – Mount Mercy's softball team split their Tuesday doubleheader against the Ottawa Spirit, claiming game one 8-7 but falling in game two, 10-6. 

GAME ONE

Mount Mercy defeated the Ottawa (AZ) Spirit 8-7 in game one of Tuesday's doubleheader action. 

The Mustangs recorded the first run of the game in the top of the second inning as Lilly Wuethrich sent one over the fence for a two-run homer to give the Mustangs an early 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the third, the Spirit answered the Mustang's early lead, putting up three RBI singles and a sacrifice fly to give the Spirit a 4-2 lead.

With the fourth inning remaining scoreless, the Mustang bats got hot as Mia Petersen hit an RBI double down the right-field line. Calli Janik joined the home run column, hitting a two-run homer to put the Mustangs head 5-4. The Mustang lead was short-lived as the Spirit quickly tied the game at five in the fifth with Savannah Sutton's RBI single to left. 

After a scoreless sixth inning, the game would come down to who could score more in the seventh inning. With a three-run home run, Annika Headington gave the Mustangs a three-run lead as they headed into the bottom of the seventh. 

The Spirit managed to get the bases loaded, scoring two runs after Mia Casadei was hit by a pitch, and Nayeli Inzunza was walked to bring the score to 8-7. Ashley Webb did not succumb to the pressure of a two-out bases-loaded situation as she struck out Izabella Suto to seal the Mustangs' 8-7 victory. 

Ashley Webb for the Mustangs claimed the victory, coming in for 2.1 innings and allowing only three hits and two runs, which came in the final inning. The loss went to the Spirit's Stephanie Cortazar in seven innings pitched, giving up 11 hits and eight runs despite striking out seven Mustang batters. 

GAME TWO

Game two of Tuesday's doubleheader saw the Mustangs falling to the Spirit, 10-6. 

The Mustangs plated the first run of the game, with Headington hitting an RBI double to right field that scored Janik. In the bottom half of the inning, the Spirit answered the Mustang's early lead by putting up two runs in the first, led by Isabella Rodriguez's RBI single to center followed by Alexis Jimenez's RBI ground out to short. 

In the third inning, the Mustangs were able to tie the game at two runs apiece, with Abbey Smith singling up the middle to score Sarah Heick. The Spirit took the lead in their half of the third, plating three runners for a 5-2 lead. 

With the Mustangs scoring one run in the top of the fourth, the Spirit's bats came alive in the bottom of the fifth as they put up five runs on the board, led by Dayzee Wong's solo home run to right center. Despite the Mustangs putting up three more runs in the top of the sixth inning, the deficit proved too much as the Spirit would hold the Mustangs in the seventh to seal their 10-6 victory. 

Alexis Ayersman earned the victory for Ottawa, pitching a complete game despite allowing 13 hits and six runs while striking out four.

Mount Mercy (8-10) will close their tour of Arizona facing Arizona Christian in Glendale, Ariz., for another doubleheader starting at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. CDT.