[Softball] Magnuson continues assault on home run records

DUBUQUE, Iowa -- Senior third baseman Jessica Magnuson hit her 11th home run of the season and the 20th of her career in game two of a Midwest Collegiate Conference doubleheader at Clarke on Sunday, helping Mount Mercy to a split with the Crusaders at Veterans Park.

Clarke's Nicky Newhoff outdueled Paige Lager in a 2-0 victory over the Mustangs in Sunday's opener. Newhoff held Mount Mercy to a pair of hits and struck out five in seven innings. Two earned runs by the Crusaders in the bottom of the fourth were the difference against Lager, who surrendered just four hits in six innings.

The Mustang bats came alive in game two as Mount Mercy totaled 13 hits in an error-free, 5-3 win. Magnuson homered during a 2-for-4 performance, giving her 11 this spring to tie the single-season mark set last year by teammate Liz Hill. Magnuson's homer was the 20th in less than two seasons with the Mustangs, moving her ahead of Hill (19) on the career chart.

Hill also had a pair of hits in the Mustang victory. Junior second baseman Rosie Jones went 3-for-5 with two runs batted in from the leadoff spot. Freshman right fielder Hayley Pence was 2-for-3, and junior right-hander Mariah Early helped her own cause with two hits in three plate appearances. Early scattered 11 hits over 5 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs while striking out three. Freshman righty Kayley Hakeman was the winning pitcher after 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Mount Mercy has won four of its last five games heading into Monday's non-conference matchup at Coe. The Mustangs (16-17, 6-6 MCC) and Kohawks will play a single, seven-inning contest at 4:15 p.m. at Coe. Mount Mercy hosts an MCC doubleheader with Iowa Wesleyan on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. at Marion High School.