Pride and Mustangs go back-and-forth in finale as MMU sweeps doubleheader

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Hoping to continue a run of at least one win per doubleheader over their last three, the Clarke University softball team wasn't able to pull off a victory on Wednesday evening at Mount Mercy University.

The Mustangs ran way with an 8-1 victory in the day's opener after the Pride jumped out 1-0 in the top of the first as they used a four-run fourth and a three-run fifth to break the 1-1 tie heading into the bottom of the fourth inning.

MMU came back from multiple deficits in the finale as Clarke led 6-3 and 8-5 before Mount Mercy used a four-run fifth and five run sixth to take a 9-8 lead then pull away to their eventual 14-8 victory.

Home runs from Leah Gray and Abby Archer helped the Pride grow their early leads in the day's finale but CU's pitching struggled through the entirety of the day, allowing 27 total hits with 18 of the 22 total runs being earned.

Kaylie Holtam and Lily King had multi-hit games at the top of the Clarke batting order as both King and Gray scored two runs each setting the table with King at the leadoff spot and Gray turning the lineup over from the nine-hole.

For Mount Mercy in the opener, Jayna Witzany bounced back from that early run allowed to strike out 15 Pride hitters and only finish with four hits allowed and walked none on her way to her 13th win of the season.

Clarke softball will stay on the road for a non-conference doubleheader at Iowa Wesleyan before returning home to host a pair of Heart doubleheaders this weekend at Veterans Memorial Park.