Mustangs Tame the Pride in Doubleheader Sweep

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Mount Mercy's softball team notched another doubleheader sweep Wednesday night, topping Clarke 4-1 in the opener before locking up a 2-0 shutout in game two.

GAME ONE

The Mustangs opened the doubleheader with a 4-1 win over the Pride.

Jumping right from the start, Calli Janik recorded the first run of the game with an RBI double to center that brought Abbey Smith home for a 1-0 lead at the end of the first.

The scoreboard remained blank in the second but the Mustangs extended to a 2-0 lead in the third inning as Sarah Heick managed to get on base due to an error committed by the Pride defense. Janik scored on the error to put the Mustangs up. 

After the Mustangs held the Pride scoreless in the fourth and fifth, Annika Headington capped the scoring with a double to center, driving in Heick and Janik for a 4-0 advantage.

The Pride cut the Mustangs lead as Kynadee Harris hit an RBI double to center field that plated Harlee Makue-Vasconcellos for a 4-1 score at the end of the sixth. The Mustangs sealed their victory, holding the Pride in the top of the seventh. 

Ashley Webb claimed the victory for the Mustangs in a complete game from the circle, allowing one run on six hits and striking out 12. 

Meredith Gatto took the loss in the doubleheader opener on six innings from the mound that resulted in four runs on eight hits, despite striking out eight Mustang batters. 

GAME TWO

The Mustangs secured the series sweep over the Pride with a 2-0 win in game two. 

Smith put the Mustangs on the board by smashing a solo homer to right in the bottom of the first to lead 1-0. With the second inning remaining scoreless, Janik sent one down the left field line for a double that scored one more run for the Mustangs, for a 2-0 lead. 

The Mustangs escaped multiple jams, stranding several Pride runners in scoring position despite not being able to string together any more runs themselves. 

Maggie McNally clinched the sweep with a two-hit shutout, striking out eight, with one finishing the game as the final out.

Payge Pyszka claimed the loss in game two, giving up two runs on four Mustang hits in six innings from the circle. 

Mount Mercy (15-17, 5-5 HEART) is back on the field on Saturday, April 5, traveling to Des Moines, Iowa to take on the Grand View Vikings in a conference doubleheader. The first pitch for game one is scheduled for 1:00 p.m