Booming bats spotlight winning weekend conclusion

YANKTON, S.D. – A sun-splashed southeastern South Dakota afternoon saw National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' No. 14-ranked Morningside College's offense bloom brightly.

The process took some time at the Sertoma Park fields, however. Mount Marty University junior pitcher Maureena Vorhagen, rebounding from a two-run, three-hit Mustangs' attack in the top of the first in the opener, shut down the Maroon on just two hits until the seventh inning. Head coach Jessica Jones-Sitzmann's squad, not wanting a repeat of a tough-luck Great Plains Athletic Conference split at Briar Cliff University Saturday, April 17, got a crucial two-out RBI single off the bat of junior outfielder Ellie Cropley (JR/Sioux City, IA) (Sioux City, Iowa) to tie it 3-3. After putting out a potential walk-off rally by the Lancers in the bottom of the seventh, senior outfielder Carson Cameron (SR/Herman, NE) (Herman, Neb.) blasted a two-run shot in the top of the eighth that lifted the visitors to a 5-3 victory.

Cameron's winning power display leaped to the entire Morningside roster in game two. A six-run second, coupled with a 12-run fourth, sent the visitors to the sweep completion with a 19-4 five-inning finish. Eight extra-base hits, including home runs from Cropley and senior infielder Lexie Stolen (SR/Sioux City, IA) (Sioux City, Iowa), headlined the blitzkrieg. Cropley's bomb, a grand slam, broke up a 1-1 tie in the third and was part of a two-hit, five-RBI outing; senior catcher Ashton Whited (SR/Elkhorn, NE) (Elkhorn, Neb.) wound up two-for-two, scored twice, and drove in four; Cameron, who's heroics proved the difference in game one, came back with two hits as sophomore designated player Mykel Gray (JR/Ames, IA) (Ames, Iowa). Junior infielder Breanna Tjebben (JR/Fort Dodge, Iowa) (Fort Dodge, Iowa) ripped two doubles among three hits, scored two runs, and drove in one.

Morningside's pitching staff continued to be impressive. Sophomore Lisa Bolton (SO/American Canyon, CA) (American Canyon, Calif.) went the distance in the opener, striking out four to improve to 14-0. The senior-sophomore combination of Alex Nelson (SR/Sioux Falls, SD) (Sioux Falls, S.D.) and Katherine Wurtz (JR/Omaha, NE) (Omaha, Neb.) carried the circle load in the nightcap. Nelson earned the triumph, striking out five in four innings.

The Maroon, increasing their Great Plains Athletic Conference lead to a game and a half over idle Midland University, moved to 35-4 overall and 13-1 in the GPAC. They return to action Friday, April 23, welcoming Dordt University to Jensen Family Softball Complex for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.