Mustangs split with No. 12 Northwestern

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The final week of the GPAC softball regular season got started with a bang, as Morningside and Northwestern met for a doubleheader Monday afternoon at Jensen Softball Complex.

The Mustangs picked up a 2-1 win over No. 12 Northwestern in game one before falling in extra innings in game two, 7-4.

Northwestern scored first in both games. After scoring a run in the second inning, the Red Raiders were unable to strike again. Ellie Gengler singled on a bunt in the fourth to score the first Morningside run of the game. The Mustangs took the lead when Ellie Cropley scored a run on a wild pitch in the fifth.

Northwestern threatened in the top of the seventh innings, getting a runner on third base with less than two outs. The Red Raiders attempted a bunt that was fielded by Grace Buffington. She turned and tossed the ball to Sydney Petersen covering first base. Petersen then fired the ball home to get the runner on third base out at the plate on the tag from Mykel Ann Gray. The double-play sealed the win.

Mykel Ann Gray and Petersen doubled in the win. Grace Buffington tossed seven innings and earned the win.

In game two, Northwestern held a 1-0 lead after one. Mackenna Sidzyik evened the game at one with a single in the bottom of the second. The Red Raiders responded with three runs in the third to take a 4-1 lead. 

In the bottom of the third, Kennedee Jones hit an RBI-single and Sidzyik singled in two more to tie the game.

Neither side could take the advantage in the scheduled seven innings, so the game went into extra innings. Northwestern struck for three runs in the eighth to win.

Gray, Jones, and Sidzyik tallied two hits apiece. Bralen Biddlecome pitched five innings of relief.

The Mustangs are back in action Tuesday against Midland.