Win streak hits nine after back-to-back shutouts

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The Mount Mercy softball team extended their winning streak to nine games with a 6-0, 3-0 sweep of Benedictine in Heart of America Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon at Ravens Field.

The Mustangs (19-7, 12-6 Heart) have won every game since a 6-5 loss to Evangel in the opening game of a doubleheader on March 26 in Springfield, Mo. The Ravens came in having won five of their last seven games, but dropped to 23-13 overall and 11-9 in the Heart. Mount Mercy is at Culver-Stockton on Tuesday for a 2:00 p.m. doubleheader in Canton, Mo.

Jayna Witzany (JR/Cottage Grove, Minn.) (10-3) held Benedictine to only two hits while striking out 14 and walking four in Saturday's opener. She got plenty of support from the Mustang offense. Jess Heck hit a pair of solo home runs and Payton Bruner (SR/Cedar Rapids, Iowa) went 3-for-4 with a homer and three runs batted in. Jaicee Lyons (SR/Atkins, Iowa) also collected two hits for the Mustangs.

The Ravens out-hit the Mustangs, 7-5, in game two but Jade Sharp (SO/Des Moines, Iowa)'s 2-run single and Emily Oler (SR/Cedar Rapids, Iowa)'s RBI double in the third inning provided all the offense Mount Mercy needed to get the win for Kalli Minger (FR/Anamosa, Iowa) (6-4), who tossed a complete-game, 7-hitter.