Softball Drops GPAC Opener to Morningside

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Doane pushed across a pair of runs in the sixth inning, but Morningside used a pair of early two-run frames to defeat the Tigers 4-2 in game one of a GPAC softball doubleheader on Saturday at Jensen Field.

Morningside scored all four of its runs in the second and third innings and then held off Doane's late push behind a complete-game effort from Adeline Fliege in the circle.

Doane threatened in the opening inning when Jeryn Allen singled up the middle and later moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, but Morningside worked out of the jam to keep the game scoreless.

The Mustangs broke through in the bottom of the second. Josie Hernandez led off with a single and Fliege followed with a two-run home run to left field for a 2-0 lead. Morningside kept pressure on with two more baserunners later in the inning, but the Tigers avoided further damage.

Morningside added to the lead in the third. After a walk and bunt single put two aboard, Jenna Skradski reached on a fielder's choice to load the situation for Macanna Guritz, who delivered a two-run single to stretch the advantage to 4-0.

Doane was quiet offensively through the middle innings, with Milannie Gonzalez collecting a single in the fifth before being moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Katelyn Hays. The Tigers, however, were unable to cash in.

The breakthrough came in the sixth. Pinch hitter Kayla Meyer opened the inning with a single to left and Jaiden Papik entered as a pinch runner. Allen then dropped down a bunt single to put two on with no outs, and Papik later stole third while Allen moved to second. Jacqueline Ordonez lifted a sacrifice fly to center that brought Papik home, while Allen also scored on a throwing error by the first baseman on the play, trimming the deficit to 4-2.

Addison Parsons followed with a double to left later in the inning to give the Tigers another chance, but Morningside recorded the final out to end the threat.

Lauren Dick gave Doane three scoreless innings of relief and helped keep the Tigers within striking distance. After replacing starter Natalie Ascencio in the fourth, Dick scattered three hits and allowed no runs over the final three frames.

Allen paced Doane offensively by going 2-for-3, while Parsons doubled and Meyer added a pinch-hit single. Gonzalez also had a hit for the Tigers.

Ascencio took the loss after allowing four runs on six hits in three innings of work. Dick finished with one strikeout in relief.

Doane had five hits in the contest, while Morningside finished with nine. The Tigers moved to 13-11 overall and 0-1 in GPAC play after the opener, while the Mustangs improved to 12-11 overall and 3-0 in the conference.

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