MULL’S TWO HOMERUN GAME NOT ENOUGH TO LIFT TIGERS OVER MUSTANGS
Sioux City, Iowa – Dakota Wesleyan softball drops a pair of games to the Mustangs of Morningside despite McKinnely Mull sending two hits over the wall in center field in game one tying her for first in home runs in the GPAC.
The Quick Details
Score:
Game 1
DWU 3 – MOR 8
Game 2
DWU 0 – MOR 7
Records:
DWU 6-23 (GPAC 1-9)
MOR 20-8 (GPAC 6-2)
How It Happened
Game 1
Dakota Wesleyan softball didn't need to see too many pitches before grabbing their first hit and run of the game. After a leadoff groundout from Alyssa Burke, McKinnely Mull went deep to center field for her ninth home run of the 2023 season giving the Tigers an early 1-0 lead. Morningside was quick to respond in the bottom half of the first inning, scoring a pair of runs on a single up the middle. Both the Tigers and Mustangs had a quiet second inning, combining for only two hits and one runner on base. DWU got rolling again in the third inning as Burke reached base on a single to third. Mull stepped back to the place for her second at bat in game one before finding the fence in center field again and clearing it for her second home run of the game and her tenth on the season. Mull's 10th home run of 2023 ties her for fourth in the nation and ties her for first in the GPAC as the Tigers lead 3-2. Morningside came back in the bottom of the inning tying the game at 3-3 with an RBI double to center field before DWU was able to strand one Mustang on base to limit the damage. Morningside grabs the 4-3 lead back in the bottom half of the fourth with an RBI single as the top of the DWU order was up to bat. It was a quick top half of the fifth inning for the Tigers at bat as they went three-up and three-down, while the Mustangs in the bottom half of the inning pushing their lead to 6-3 on a two out RBI double to left field. Morningside grabs two more runs on a wild pitch from Keirstyn Krcil. Regan Grossi was the first Tiger aboard in the top of the sixth inning with a standup double to left field and two outs already on the board. Grossi advanced to third on the Mustangs failed pickoff attempt, but she was stranded their as Brianna Dawson grounded out to first base for the third out. The Tigers keep the Mustangs off the base in the sixth as Morningside goes down with a pair of strikeouts and a fly out to center field.
Katelyn Farris got the loss in game one, pushing her record to 2-10 on the season after tossing four innings and allowing six hits, four runs, and two walks on 68 pitches thrown and 19 batters faced. Keirstyn Krcil stepped in for the final two innings allowing two hits, four runs, one walk, and striking out three batters in 48 pitches thrown and 10 batters faced.
Beyond the Results
- McKinnely Mull: 2-for-3, two runs, three RBI, and two home runs
- Reagan Grossi: 2-for-3 and a double
Game 2
Both the Tigers and Mustangs were quiet to start game two as both teams combined for only five hits through two and a half innings played as Morningside led 1-0. Dakota Wesleyan allowed the Mustangs to plate two more runs on one hit in the bottom of the third. The Tigers had their best chance to grab a run in the fourth with Grossi standing on second after a throwing error by the Mustangs pitcher; but DWU was unable to bring in a run as they continued to trail 3-0. Through five at bats, the Tigers stranded five runners on base compared to only two runners the Mustangs left on base. After five innings pitched, Meghan Daffern's day was over in the circle with five hits, four runs, one earned, and one walk on 21 batters faced and 56 total pitches. Danielle Ratute tossed the final inning for the Tigers allowing three hits, three runs, and two walks on eight batters faced and 32 pitches tossed as the Tigers fall 7-0.
Beyond the Results
- Peyton Bagley: 2-for-3, and a double
Up Next
The Tigers are back in action at home in Mitchell for the first time all season on Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15. The Tigers will face off on Friday against (RV) Midland for a 3 p.m. double header. While on Saturday, DWU takes on Concordia in a 1 p.m. double header.
As always, stay up to date on any schedule changes at dwuathletics.com, on twitter at dwusports, and on the DWU Tigers mobile app!
