Mustang
SOFTBALL SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2022
A five-date home schedule opens this afternoon for Morningside University. Head coach Jessica Jones-Sitzmann’s Mustangs jump into 2022 Great Plains Athletic Conference action as the University of Jamestown visits Jensen Softball Complex. Going into a twin bill that begins a span of a scheduled six games in seven days, Mside stands 12-6. The Jimmies harbor a 14-12 overall mark and are 1-1 in league play.
THE SERIES Sitzmann-Jones’ program owns a 16-8 all-time advantage. The Mustangs started with 11 victories in the first 14 meetings. However, Jamestown has turned the tables to a degree since 2015, as Mside has a slim 6-5 cushion in the span.
THE MATCH-UP Today’s contests feature the two teams that stood atop the 2022 conference coaches’ preseason poll. The Mustangs gathered 112 poll points and first-place votes. Jamestown also collected 112 poll points and gained six first-place votes. A balance of electrically-charged offense and first-rate pitching has guided Morningside. They rank among the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ top 50 in team batting average (.325 – No. 47) and slugging percentage (.469 – No. 37). The circle staff’s 1.97 combined earned-run average is 24th-lowest. Individually, senior infielder Morgan Nixon, a 2021 All-American, is among the national best 40 in home runs (five – No. 36). Fellow senior Katherine Wurtz, one of three Mustangs’ hurlers, has a similar residence in ERA (No. 36 – 1.40). Freshman pitcher Grace Buffington knew how to put the bow on a big weekend on March 20. She held down Kansas Wesleyan University’s offense to only two hits over six innings of a non-conference doubleheader nightcap. Buffington improved to 6-2 with the complete game mastery of the Coyotes, as Mside’s offense posted eight runs on 11 hits. The young circle standout earned three of the four pitching triumphs in contests against Bethany College and KWU last weekend. The Mustangs were led at the plate by junior infielder Sydney Petersen. Petersen doubled three times and drove in three runs to guide an 8-0, six-inning victory. Jones-Sitzmann’s crew narrowly missed a perfect weekend. Wurtz poured in six strikeouts at the home team offense in a complete game outing in the opener. Junior outfielder Vanessa Bohuslavsky drove in a run to aid her teammate’s efforts. However, KWU picked up a single tally in the seventh and eighth to gain a 3-2 decision. Coached by Kevin Gall, Jamestown is led by junior outfielder Santina Zito’s robust .449 batting average. She’s laced eight extra-base hits which have driven in 23 runs. Freshman infielder Ally Battistoni isn’t far behind .400 pace, hitting at a .396 rate. The upperclasswoman pitching tandem of senior Kat Miska and junior Katie Merchant has combined for 12 victories. Morningside is scheduled to take to the road for doubleheaders at the College of Saint Mary Wednesday, March 29, and Dakota Wesleyan University Saturday, April 2. They return home Friday, April 8, to face off against Mount Marty University.