Wolves Drop Pair to Morningside in Softball

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April 17, 2009

Morningside scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning and stranded two Nebraska Wesleyan runners in the bottom of the inning to pick up a 2-0 extra innings victory and secure the doubleheader sweep on Friday night (April 17) in Lincoln, Neb. The Mustangs held NWU to three infield hits in game one to win, 4-1.

Both games of the Great Plains Athletic Conference softball doubleheader were pitchers duals as the two teams combined for just 17 hits in the two games.

Game two was scoreless after seven innings and a bizarre top of the 8th led the Mustangs to the victory. Back-to-back infield singles put runners on 2nd and 3rd with just one out. The second infield hit was a short pop up in front of the plate that touched a NWU player before rolling foul to allow the runners to advance. After a walk to load the bases, the Mustangs attempted a squeeze play with Jerra Steffan. The Prairie Wolves attempted to throw out the runner at 1st, but the pitchers throw was high allowing two runs to score.

NWU tried to rally in the bottom of the eighth as Steph Schuelke singled and Ashley Stang doubled to put runners and 2nd and 3rd with one out. However, a fly out to right field and foul out to third ended the game.

Alysia Wittmaack took the loss, allowing one earned run in 8.0 innings. She struck out seven to set the new Nebraska Wesleyan career strikeout record in just her second season. She has 275 career K's to pass Ashley Tiedgen for the all-time mark.

In game one, Morningside pitcher Kelly Baumert held NWU to only three singles, all in the infield. The Mustangs scored a run in the first, Kylie Tirado hit a solo home run in the fourth, and two doubles plated two runs in the seventh.

The Prairie Wolves only run came in the fourth as Dani Bryant singled, moved to second on a sacrifice, stole third and scored on a fielding error by the first baseman.

Brenna Maguire took the loss allowing three earned runs and five hits while striking out six.

The Prairie Wolves are now off until Tuesday (April 21) as Saturday's game was postponed and Sunday's game cancelled. The April 21st game is the Strike Out Cancer game versus Dana at 5 pm.