Nightcap Shutout Secures Split with MMU

Cedar Rapids--Madie Anderson (Sr., Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Elementary Education) pitched masterfully and the Statesmen softball team scored just enough as it managed to split a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader with Mount Mercy Friday.

William Penn (27-19, 11-11 Heart) dropped the opener 5-4, but won the second contest 2-0.

The visitors were slow to get rolling in the first contest, allowing the Mustangs (24-21, 13-9 Heart) to post a 5-0 advantage after five innings on the diamond.  The home crew scored twice in the first, once in the third, and twice more in the fifth.

WPU, which matched MMU with eight hits apiece, finally struck in the top of the sixth, producing all four of its runs in that half inning.

Marin Frazee (So., Sioux City, Iowa, Exercise Science) came around on a single by Chelsey Huff (Sr., Douds, Iowa, Exercise Science), while pinchrunner Maci Rutledge (Fr., Chadron, Neb., Nursing) touched home plate on a double off the bat of Tori Smith (So., Olympia, Wash., Secondary Education).  Rylee Riesberg (So., Ankeny, Iowa, Exercise Science) then recorded the biggest base knock of the matchup, however, as her single scored Tori Smith and pinchrunner Emily Winkler (Jr., North Platte, Neb., Exercise Science).

The navy and gold were again successful in putting runners on the basepaths in the seventh, but unfortunately they left the tying and go-ahead runs stranded in scoring position.

Riesberg topped the visiting crew with two hits, while Ella Pierce (Sr., McClelland, Iowa, Business Management) finished with one base knock and one walk.

Huff went the distance in the pitching circle, striking out 11 without a walk.

Anderson flew through the Mount Mercy lineup in the nightcap, giving up only four hits in a shutout.  She senior notched five strikeouts against one walk.  The Statesmen nearly squandered her efforts, though, as the game was scoreless heading into the fourth inning.

With Tori Smith and Laila Smith (So., Olympia, Wash., Elementary Education) both on base in the fourth, Laila Pelds (Sr., Pleasant Hill, Iowa, Elementary Education) broke the tie as her single drove in both players.  Anderson then made it stick as she permitted just two more hits the rest of the way.  Only two MMU players reached scoring position (never advanced past second) in the nightcap.

Pelds and Tori Smith guided the offense with two hits apiece; WPU ended the win with five hits.

"These were typical Heart games with tough competition and solid showings by both teams," Head Coach Laura North said.  "I am proud of our fight for 14 innings."

Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa Saturday to host MidAmerica Nazarene in a Heart doubleheader at 1 p.m.