Mustangs mount comeback to keep pressure on in GPAC race

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Needing wins to keep pressure on the Great Plains Athletic Conference leaders, Morningside found itself on the short side of an early deficit in today's second game against Dordt after a 9-1 six-inning win. The Mustangs stayed calm and mounted a comeback from a five run deficit to tie the game in the fourth inning and would take the lead for good in the fifth.

Small ball, speed on the bases, and opportunistic at bats were the keys to Morningside's comeback, as the Mustangs had just two extra base hits in the contest, back-to-back doubles for Jalyn Noelle and Mackenzi Harrel. Josie Hernandez, Adeline Fliege, and Emma Barwick, all successfully executed sacrifices, with Fliege also bringing in a run on a broken-bat bunt.

Noelle, Harrel, Hernandez, Ellie Gengler, and Kennedy Wineland joined Fliege with RBIs.

Fleige got the start in the contest, throwing a total of five innings. She was lifted in the bottom of the second in a Bralen Biddlecome pinch-hit plate appearance. Biddlecome would take two innings, striking out one batter, but giving up six runs. Fliege gave up the first run of the contest and a last-ditch effort home run, while striking out four.

In contrast, game one saw doubles for Jenna Skradski and Gengler as well as a grand slam for Mackenzi Harrel. Harrel totaled five RBIs, Morgan Secora and Gengler, who drove in the game-ending run with a walkoff single, each had two. 

Secora threw the complete game, striking out three in six innings while walking one.

Morningside, who sits at 14-4 in the GPAC, sits third in the league standings with two more games under its belt than Northwestern and Midland. The Mustangs will host Waldorf on Tuesday at 3 p.m., looking for a sweep to keep themselves in the race as the regular season nears its end.