Wurtz shutout spotlights season-opening sweep

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Morningside University proved its preseason top 20 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' top 20 ranking in spades Friday, Feb. 18.

The Mustangs toppled a pair of North Star Athletic Association powers in Dickinson State University and Bellevue University at Presentation College's Dome. Senior Katherine Wuertz (Omaha, Neb.) fired a complete-game, three-hitter with four strikeouts in an 8-0 run-ruled six-inning win over the Blue Hawks. It took a game two comeback to get past a gritty Bears bunch, as a three-run seventh-inning rally sparked by an RBI single from sophomore Mackenna Sidyzik (Omaha, Neb.) and a two-run double off the bat of senior Morgan Nixon (Omaha, Neb.) broke up a 4-4 tie.

Nixon's first day off her All-American 2021 award was sizzling. She went four-for-six with two home runs, the critical game two double, three runs scored, and five RBI. She and Sidzyik's final inning heroics made a winner out of a pitching newcomer. Freshman Grace Buffington (Gretna, Neb.) surrendered just one earned run on three hits and struck out four over the final five innings of the nightcap. 

Morningside (2-0) continues the PC Dome Games Saturday, Feb. 19, versus Dakota State University and Mayville State University.