Juggernaut offensive attack keeps Mustangs unbeaten

MCPHERSON, KS. – An 18-run, 19-hit attack over ten innings Saturday, February 27, guided Morningside College to two more impressive victories.

Battling Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member McPherson University, head coach Jessica Jones-Sitzmann's squad posted plenty of crooked numbers on the Bulldog Stadium scoreboard. An eight-run explosion over the second and third innings in the opener sent the nation's No. 20-ranked National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics program to an 8-0, five-inning victory. It was more of the same in game two, as the Maroon broke up a tight 2-1 contest with another eight-run burst, this time over the fourth and fifth frames, to turn in a 10-1, five-inning triumph.

The four-through-six hitting trio of junior infielder Morgan Nixon (JR/Omaha, NE) (Omaha, Neb.), sophomore infielder Taylor Richter (SO/Rock Valley, IA) (Rock Valley, Iowa), and senior infielder Lexie Stolen (SR/Sioux City, IA) (Sioux City, Iowa) provided the barrage in game one. Nixon went three-for-three with two runs scored; Richter tallied two hits and two RBI, and Stolen launched a grand slam as part of a two-hit effort. In game two, Nixon came back with two hits and two RBI; senior outfielder Carson Cameron (SR/Herman, NE) (Herman, Neb.) efforted two hits, scored a run, and drove in one; and junior catcher Mykel Gray (JR/Ames, IA) (Ames, Iowa) homered, scored twice and drove in two runs.

All of the offensive superlatives gathered by the Mustangs were more than enough for the pitching staff. Junior Katherine Wurtz (JR/Omaha, NE) (Omaha, Neb.) fired a complete-game three-hitter that included seven strikeouts. Sophomore Lisa Bolton (SO/American Canyon, CA) (American Canyon, Calif.) and senior Alex Nelson (SR/Sioux Falls, SD) (Sioux Falls, S.D.) combined for four strikeouts in game two.

The Mustangs resume their weekend Sunflower State tour Sunday, February 28. They take on Bethel College.