Mustangs top No. 5 Freed-Hardeman, fall to Baker

GULF SHORES, Ala. – They might not have completed the sweep Saturday, but the Morningside softball team earned a win over preseason No. 5 Freed-Hardeman 5-4 before falling to Baker 2-0.

The Mustangs scored their five runs before Freed-Hardeman could get on the board. In the top of the second inning, Taylor Richter recorded an RBI-single as Morgan Nixon scored on the play. 

Neither team scored in the third inning, but Morningside's bats came alive again in the fourth. Ellie Cropley singled to bring in Richter. Sydney Petersen doubled home Cropley and Vanessa Bohuslavsky. Nixon brought Petersen home with a single and the Mustangs led 5-0.

Grace Buffington went four-and-a-third strong innings, not allowing a run for the win. Morgan Secora came in to pitch in relief, giving up the four Freed-Hardeman runs, but was able to battle through adversity to seal the win.

Petersen, Nixon and Kenedee Jones tallied two hits each for the Mustangs in game one.

The Mustang bats struggled in game two despite a strong pitching performance by Buffington.

Buffington pitched seven innings, allowing two runs in the fifth, otherwise keeping Baker in check. Mackenna Sidzyik recorded the lone hit for the Morningside offense in game two.

Morningside wraps up their weekend in Alabama by facing Southeastern Baptist and William Woods Sunday.