Ready to roll: Mustangs prep for first national appearance since 2021

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Throughout the season, the Morningside University softball team has seen elite competition in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.

When the Mustangs travel down to Oklahoma City this week for the NAIA Opening Round of the national tournament, they won't be intimidated by the competition. The Mustangs' first national tournament game since 2021 will be at 1 p.m. Monday, when they play Houston-Victoria.

The other three teams in the pod hosted by Oklahoma City University are the No. 5 Stars, Missouri Baptist and William Carey of Mississippi.

"Our schedule is a test of what we're trying to do," said head coach Brooke Pruner on Friday. "There's good teams down there, but when we go to Alabama (for spring break), and when we play Northwestern and Midland, that's what really sets us up to succeed. We're ready to roll, and our girls are very confident."

Morningside qualified for the national tournament by making the championship series of the GPAC Tournament, which it lost in a tough three-game set to the Red Raiders. The Mustangs won 33 games and went 17-5 in regular-season conference play.

The Mustangs also solidified their resume with winning at home, defeating their opponent 9 out of 10 times. Their longest winning streak of the season was six in early April, sweeping College of Saint Mary, Briar Cliff, and Concordia.

"These girls have worked hard all season long to get here," Pruner said. "It's a testament to their hard work throughout their whole lives. They've proved they deserved this with how well we've played down the stretch."

It hasn't been just one player that has taken Morningside back to the national tournament — it's been a full team effort.

Of those who had 50 or more at-bats this season, eight Mustangs had a .298 batting average or higher. Three had 45-plus hits, and three players had double-digits in extra-base hits. As a team, Morningside hit .324 in the regular-season, and is ranked 23rd in the country with 17 triples.

Paige Schuster led the Mustangs in hits (64), while Mackenzi Harrel hit the most home runs (11) and drove in the most (48).

In terms of the pitching, Morningside used five pitchers in the regular season, tallying a 3.04 earned run average. Morgan Secora and Adeline Fliege each won 12 games, and both pitched more than 100 innings. Fliege recorded four shutouts.

"The underclassmen have picked all of us seniors up, and they're playing for us, in a way," senior Ellie Gengler said. "A lot of girls have stepped up into big roles. From freshmen to seniors, this team has found a really great connection and accepted their role. We have a great chemistry."