[Softball] Mustangs split 'home' opener

LISBON, Iowa -- Junior catcher Briana DeFlavio homered for the second straight game and junior first baseman Liz Hill drilled her first homer of the year to power Mount Mercy to a 6-2 victory over Ashford in the second game of a Midwest Collegiate Conference doubleheader on Sunday at Lisbon High School.

Sunday's action was moved from Marion High School to Lisbon because of poor field conditions, but the late start didn't stop the Saints from winning the opener, 5-4. Ashford got off to a good start, scoring twice in the top of the first inning to grab an early lead. Mount Mercy answered with three runs in the bottom half to move ahead, 3-2. It stayed that way until the fourth, when the Saints tied it up with an unearned run.

After the Mustangs stranded a runner in their half of the fourth, Ashford took the lead for good on Kyndal Dollison's solo homer in the top of the fifth frame. Mount Mercy left two more baserunners in the bottom of the fifth, and the Saints tacked on an unearned run in the seventh to lead, 5-3. The Mustangs got an unearned run of their own in the bottom of the seventh inning, but left the bases loaded as Ashford defeated Mount Mercy for the first time since 2008.

DeFlavio, junior second baseman Rosie Jones, senior third baseman Jessica Magnuson, and freshman center fielder Erica Soppe all had two hits apiece for the Mustangs. One of Magnuson's hits was her sixth home run of the season, a team high. Junior right-hander Mariah Early went 4 1/3 innings, taking the loss after surrendering three earned runs on seven hits while striking out six. Freshman righty Kayley Hakeman didn't give up an earned run in 2 2/3 innings of relief.

After the Saints (2-6, 1-1 MCC) got on the board in the top of the first inning, Mount Mercy took charge. Sophomore shortstop Stephanie Russell doubled to lead off the bottom of the first and scored on Magnuson's double two batters later. Liz Hill's sacrifice fly scored Magnuson and the Mustangs never looked back. DeFlavio's two-run homer in the third made it 4-1 and Liz Hill's two-run shot in the fifth made it a comfortable, 6-2, margin.

Russell finished 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored. DeFlavio also went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in and Magnuson ended up 1-for-2 while scoring twice. Junior right-hander Paige Lager scattered eight hits in seven innings, striking out five and walking three while giving up a pair of earned runs.

Mount Mercy (8-9, 1-1 MCC) continues league play on Wednesday, traveling to Oskaloosa to take on William Penn (16-6, 1-0 MCC) at 5:00 p.m. The Mustangs will go back to Oskaloosa this weekend for the first of two MCC Challenge weekends. On Saturday, Mount Mercy plays St. Ambrose at 1:15 p.m. and Clarke at 3:30 p.m. Then on Sunday, the Mustangs battle Grand View at 11:00 a.m. and Viterbo (Wis.) at 1:15 p.m.