Mside moves win streak to six

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Senior pitcher Katherine Wurtz (Omaha, Neb.) fired her second straight complete-game shutout, guiding Morningside University to a non-conference sweep Monday, April 18.

Extending a personal string of scoreless innings to 16, Wurtz handcuffed visiting Dakota State University on four hits with two strikeouts in game one at Jensen Family Softball Complex. She received all of the run support she needed in the home half of the first, as senior infielder Bre Tjebben (Fort Dodge) beat out a bang-bang play at first on the back end of a Trojans' double-play attempt, scoring senior outfielder Ellie Cropley (Sioux City) for the winning tally in a 1-0 final.

The defense was also crucial behind the senior circle standout. Head coach Jessica Jones-Sitzmann's squad turned a single-game school-record-tying three double plays to ensure the outcome.

Game two saw the offense post 12 runs on ten hits and take advantage of five DSU errors to claim a 12-3, run-ruled triumph in six innings. Junior infielder Sydney Petersen (Omaha, Neb.) crushed a pair of doubles and drove in four; sophomore first baseman Kennedee Jones (Ankeny, Iowa) drove in two runs, was three-for-three at the plate and scored three times; and sophomore outfielder Mackenna Sidzyik (Omaha, Neb.) tallied two RBI to lead the charge.

Freshman pitcher Grace Buffington picked up her 12^th win of the season with a complete-game nightcap decision. She struck out two over six frames. 

Morningside (22-12) takes a six-game win streak to Dordt University for a critical Great Plains Athletic Conference doubleheader Friday, April 22. First pitch at Open Space Park Field in Sioux Center is 4 p.m.