Mustangs fall in showdown with league-leading Eagles

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The Mount Mercy softball team dropped a pair of close games to sixth-ranked Central Methodist on Sunday, losing the opener, 5-2, before falling, 3-2, in the second game of the Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader at Busse Field.

Starting pitchers Keighlan Cronin and Jayna Witzany (JR/Cottage Grove, Minn.) squared off in game one. Both went the distance and allowed seven hits, but Cronin's Eagles capitalized on their opportunities for the 5-2 victory. Witzany (11-4) allowed five earned runs while striking out nine and walking two, Cronin surrendered one earned run with a strikeout and a walk. Emily Oler (SR/Cedar Rapids, Iowa) was 2-for-3 with a run scored, Morgan Braughton (SR/Marion, Iowa) went 2-for-2, and Hannah Mausser (JR/Bettendorf, Iowa) drove in a run for the Mustangs.

Game two was another terrific pitching matchup, this time Madison Love and Oler went toe-to-toe. Central Methodist got all three runs in the top of the first and then held off Mount Mercy, which left seven runners on base. Oler finished with three strikeouts and three bases on balls while surrendering three earned runs on nine hits in seven innings. She also drove in a run. Payton Bruner (SR/Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Jade Sharp (SO/Des Moines, Iowa) had two hits apiece and Jess Heick (SR/Solon, Iowa) also had an RBI for the Mustangs.

This week, Mount Mercy (21-9, 14-8 Heart) travels to Dubuque to face Clarke (10-25, 4-17 Heart) on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. Then it's six consecutive home games beginning with a Saturday doubleheader against Graceland (14-27, 6-18 Heart) beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Busse Field. The Mustangs will also celebrate Senior Day between games on Saturday. Mount Mercy closes out the weekend by hosting Peru State (14-22, 8-13 Heart) on Sunday, also at 1:00 p.m.