Trolliet’s Two Homers Help Seal a Mustang Sweep Over Pioneers

OLATHE, Kan. - Mount Mercy's softball team completed a doubleheader sweep over MidAmerica Nazarene on Friday, taking the opener 8-7 before sealing the sweep 8-1 in game two. 

Game One

Mount Mercy opened Friday's doubleheader with a thrilling 8-7 extra-inning victory over MidAmerica Nazarene.

The Mustangs struck early in the top of the first. Annika Headington delivered an RBI single up the middle, and Calli Janik scored on a wild pitch to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead after one. The Pioneers responded in the bottom of the frame with a triple to right by Emma Jones, bringing home Alli VanLanker.

Headington added to the Mustangs' lead in the third with a two-run homer, extending the margin to 4-1. The Mustangs plated three more runs in the sixth—highlighted by Rylee Goodfellow's RBI single and two wild pitches that scored Raquel Trolliet and Goodfellow—pushing the lead to 7-1.

The Pioneers rallied for six runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game. Danica Hobbs reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Morgan Hamilton on a throwing error. Kelly Stoakes ripped a two-run double to left center, followed by Abby Schulte's two-run double down the left-field line. VanLanker's RBI single to left tied the game at 7-7.

Neither team scored in the eighth, but Janik launched a solo home run in the top of the ninth to give Mount Mercy the final edge. The Mustangs then shut the door on the Pioneers to secure the game-one win.

Alyssa McElvain earned the win in relief, tossing 2.2 shutout innings and allowing just two hits. Starter Ashley Webb went 6.1 innings, giving up six runs on eight hits and striking out 11.

Mandy Brown took the loss for the Pioneers, pitching six innings and allowing four runs on eight hits with 12 strikeouts. Hannah Etzel pitched three innings in relief, giving up four runs on five hits.

Game Two

Mount Mercy completed the sweep with a dominant 8-1 win in the nightcap.

The Pioneers struck first in the second inning on a groundout by Aariana Paprocki that scored VanLanker. But the Mustangs answered in the fourth when Raquel Trolliet blasted a two-run homer over the left-field fence to take a 2-1 lead.

In the sixth, Lilly Wuethrich added a two-RBI single to right, extending the lead to 4-1. The Mustangs tacked on four more runs in the seventh. Headington doubled to center to score Abbey Smith, and Trolliet capped her stellar day with a three-run homer—her second of the game—sealing the 8-1 win.

Trolliet went 2-for-4 with five RBIs in game two.

Maggie McNally went the distance in the circle for Mount Mercy, allowing one run on nine hits with two strikeouts.

Brie Manwarren took the loss for the Pioneers, giving up seven runs on 14 hits in 6.1 innings with six strikeouts.

Mount Mercy (22-20, 12-8 Heart of America) returns to action Wednesday, April 23, hosting St. Ambrose at Busse Field. First pitch for game one of the doubleheader is scheduled for 5 p.m.