Mustangs split Saturday competition with close loss, big win

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Morningside softball ends its first weekend of the 2023 season at .500 after splitting a pair of games Saturday in the Presentation Dome, losing to Northern State 8-7 and defeating Valley City State 9-0. 

The Mustangs put up a five-spot in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it a one run game in the seventh, but the comeback came up just short in the first game of the day. 

Morgan Nixon and Ellie Gengler brought the power in the opener, each hitting home runs. Nixon's two-run home run in the first tied the game at two, and Gengler's grand slam made it an 8-7 game in the sixth. The lone other run for the Mustangs came off the bat of Kennedee Jones on an RBI-single in the sixth.

Ellie Cropley and Mackenna Sidzyik each doubled. Cropley and Nixon finished with two hits each. 

In the circle, it was Grace Buffington pitching four innings and taking the loss. Jenna Skradski hurled three innings as well.

It took six innings for the Mustangs to put away Valley City State in the second game of the day. Morningside scored in four of the six innings of play. There weren't any homers in game two, but a Nixon double brought in two runs and a pair of Cropley singles brought in a total of three RBI. Jones brought in two on a single. Mykel Ann Gray tallied three hits from the leadoff spot.

In the circle, Grace Buffington went five innings, striking out three. Jordan Skradski pitched the sixth. 

Next up, Morningside is in Sioux Center for the Dordt Dome Tournament. The Mustangs face Waldorf and Avila (Mo.) Friday and Bellevue (Neb.) and Dakota State Saturday.