[Softball] Powerful Offense Propels Mustangs in Home Opener

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa. – The Mustangs opened the 2019 season at Busse Field on Saturday with a nonconference doubleheader against the Waldorf University Warriors. A mixture of producing at the plate and solid defense propelled the Mustangs to two wins getting them back to .500 on the season with a 5-5 record overall.

In game one, the Mustangs wasted no time throwing two runs up on the board after a two-out double by Tawny Menster (SR/Olin, Iowa) in the bottom of the first. The Warriors answered with a five-run top of the second as a result of a base-clearing triple and two-run homerun. Finding themselves quickly down by three, the Mustang bats battled once again in the bottom of the third producing three runs on an RBI single by Jolona Shield (SR/Lawrence, Kan.) and two missed plays at the plate by the Warriors. After the Mustangs tied it up, the two teams would score a pair of runs in the fourth to find themselves tied once again at 7-7. In the bottom of the sixth, the Mustangs took the lead for one last time thanks to another two-RBI double by Menster. The Mustangs snagged the first game of the doubleheader 9-7. Offensive leaders were Menster going 4-for-4, including two doubles, with five RBI. Shield followed going 2-for-3 at the plate, including a sacrifice fly, with two RBI. Payton Bruner (JR/Cedar Rapids, Iowa) tallied two stolen base while Jessica Miller (SR/North English, Iowa) collected one. Madelyn Irwin (JR/Orange Park, Fla.) got the start on the mound for 1.2 innings before Jayna Witzany (FR/Cottage Grove, Minn.) came in as relief. Witzany would pitch the remaining 5.1 innings securing the win allowing just two runs on four hits while walking four and striking out seven.

The Mustangs started game two producing runs in each of the first four innings. The Warriors answered with two runs of their own in the top of the third, but the Mustangs still controlled the game 5-2. In the bottom of the sixth, the Mustangs tacked on two runs for security after a two-RBI single by Shield resulting in a final score of 7-2. The offense in game two was led by Jess Heick (SO/Solon, Iowa) going 2-for-4, including a double, with two RBI. Shield went 1-for-3 with three RBI. Menster was 1-for-4 at the plate with an RBI double. Bruner and Audrey Grove (FR/South English, Iowa) had stolen bases for the Mustangs. On the mound, Menster threw a complete game allowing two runs, one earned, on seven hits while walking three and sitting down six to collect the win.
 
Up next, the Mustangs begin Heart of America Conference play with a doubleheader at Peru State College on Thursday, March 21 to start a streak of six conference series on the road.