Mustangs' postseason run ends on day two of the opening round

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - After a thrilling 12-inning 1-0 win over Texas A&M San Antonio in an elimination game, the Mount Mercy softball team saw their season come to a close with a 5-3 loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday at Ann Lacy Stadium.

Despite collecting a hit in eight innings, the Mustangs couldn't push a run across the board. Sam Lee's leadoff double in the sixth had the perfect setup for Mount Mercy to score and then hold the Jaguars in the seventh, but Texas A&M San Antonio (30-23) retired the next three Mustangs in order to get out of the jam. Mount Mercy threatened again in the eighth, ninth, and 10th with runners in scoring position but could not get the timely hit. 

Finally, in the 12th, a sacrifice bunt from Makenna Moenk advanced Allie Poston to third and Natalie Tecklenburg to second. Sam Lee walked to load the bases. With two outs, Raquel Trolliet's infield single plated Poston for the win in dramatic fashion. Tecklenburg, Moenk, Lee, and Poston each tallied two hits, accounting for eight of the 13 Mustang hits. Tecklenburg's two hits, brought her hitting streak to nine. Jayna Witzany (22-8) was more than superb on the mound, throwing an astounding 179 pitches in the two-hit, 13 strikeout, complete game performance. It was her ninth shutout of the season. 

Mount Mercy faced another elimination game just 30 minutes after their marathon, this time it was the defending NAIA National Champions, Oklahoma City, who was beaten by Midland (Neb.) earlier in the day. The Mustangs put up a fight with the fifth-ranked and top seed in the bracket, before ultimately falling 5-2. 

The Stars struck first, scoring two in the first, but after that Kalli Minger (4-11) settled in nicely. She produced back-to-back shutout innings before Oklahoma City was able to tack on two more, going up 4-0 through three innings. After a double play diminished Lee's leadoff single, Mount Mercy got consecutive hits from Abbey Smith and Trolliet. Rylee Goodfellow was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Jade Sharp. Sharp did not reach base in the previous game, but came through with a clutch two-out, two RBI single to right field, cutting the deficit in half, 4-2. 

Oklahoma City added another run in the fifth. Down to their last at-bat, Poston and Lee each singled, bringing the tying run to the plate in Calli Janik. The freshman hit a shot to left center field, but the speed of center fielder, Carlee Mollet, saved the day for the Stars as she made a leaping grab to end the game. Lee finished the game 3-for-4, giving her a five-game hitting streak dating back to the conference tournament. Tecklenburg also reached base for the 10th-straight game after drawing a walk.

Witzany entered the game in the fourth and recorded two more strikeouts, bringing her season total to 328, which is second in the NAIA and a new Mustang record. She ends her outstanding career with 1,077 strikeouts- seventh in NAIA history. Mount Mercy finished the season at 33-20, marking their fifth straight season with 30 wins or more (not counting COVID). 

Midland went onto beat Oklahoma City in the championship and advance to the NAIA World Series.