Softball sweeps No. 11 Baker in Saturday doubleheader

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – After opening day didn't go as planned for Morningside, the Mustangs bounced back with a sweep of No. 11 Baker Saturday at the American State Bank Dome in Sioux Center. The Mustangs won game one 6-5 in nine innings and game two 6-4.

in game one, Morningside spotted Baker a 5-0 lead through five innings of play, but the Mustangs changed direction in the sixth. An error allowed Kennedee Jones to reach and drive in Mackenna Sidzyik, who was on third base after a leadoff double followed by a ground out that moved her over a base. 

With their backs against the wall, Morningside needed to score four in the seven to keep the game alive. Paige Schuster led off with a single to left. Morgan Secora reached on an error that moved Schuster to third and Jalyn Noelle walked to load the bases. After a pitching change, Kennedy Wineland walked in Schuster for the inning's first run. Laine Keller then stepped in to pinch hit and laced a single to right field that scored two runs. Mackenzi Harrel added an RBI-ground out and the game was tied at five. 

After a scoreless eighth inning, Noelle recorded a sacrifice fly to bring in what would be the winning run in the ninth.

In the bottom of the ninth, Secora struck out the first two batters. With the runner on second base from the extra inning rule, Baker hit a single to right, but Harrel threw the ball home and Emma Barwick made the tag at the plate to seal the victory for Morningside.

Sidzyik finished with a pair of base hits, including the double. Wineland had two hits and an RBI. Keller had one hit and two RBI. 

Jenna Skradski started the game for the Mustangs, going four innings into the game before being relieved by Secora. Secora recorded the final 15 outs, striking out four and not allowing a run.

Game two was the opposite of game one through three innings. Morningside opened up the 5-0 lead this time around, scoring once in the first and adding four in the third. 

Barwick led off the bottom of the first with a double and moved to third on a Sidzyik ground out. Harrel grounded out, but Barwick came home to score on the play to make it 1-0.

After a clean second inning, the Mustangs broke the game open in the third. With one out, Noelle stood on third and Barwick on first. Barwick took off for second base on a pitch and the double steal was in play as Noelle scored from third and Barwick was safe at second. Sidzyik proceeded to double home Barwick and the Mustangs led 3-0. Jones proceeded to homer two at-bats later and Morningside led 5-0.

Baker scored one run in each of the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, but it wasn't enough to complete the comeback. Morningside added a run in the fourth on a single from Wineland that scored Schuster. 

Jones went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in the second game of the day. Sidzyik had a multi-hit game for the second straight game, including another double and an RBI. 

In the circle, Bralen Biddlecome went four-and-two-thirds innings, striking out one batter. Maggie Fisher got the last out of the fifth inning and Jordan Skradski pitched the final two innings, striking out three batters.

Morningside gets a week off after a 2-2 weekend this weekend, returning to the American State Bank Dome Feb. 23-24 for four games over two days.