Mustang
SOFTBALL SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2022
A five-date home schedule opens this afternoon for Morningside University. Head coach Jessica Jones-Sitzmann’s Mustangs jump into 2022 Great Plains Athletic Conference action as the University of Jamestown visits Jensen Softball Complex. Going into a twin bill that begins a span of a scheduled six games in seven days, Mside stands 12-6. The Jimmies harbor a 14-12 overall mark and are 1-1 in league play.
THE SERIES Sitzmann-Jones’ program owns a 16-8 all-time advantage. The Mustangs started with 11 victories in the first 14 meetings. However, Jamestown has turned the tables to a degree since 2015, as Mside has a slim 6-5 cushion in the span.
THE MATCH-UP Today’s contests feature the two teams that stood atop the 2022 conference coaches’ preseason poll. The Mustangs gathered 112 poll points and first-place votes. Jamestown also collected 112 poll points and gained six first-place votes. A balance of electrically-charged offense and first-rate pitching has guided Morningside. They rank among the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ top 50 in team batting average (.325 – No. 47) and slugging percentage (.469 – No. 37). The circle staff’s 1.97 combined earned-run average is 24th-lowest. Individually, senior infielder Morgan Nixon, a 2021 All-American, is among the national best 40 in home runs (five – No. 36). Fellow senior Katherine Wurtz, one of three Mustangs’ hurlers, has a similar residence in ERA (No. 36 – 1.40). Freshman pitcher Grace Buffington knew how to put the bow on a big weekend on March 20. She held down Kansas Wesleyan University’s offense to only two hits over six innings of a non-conference doubleheader nightcap. Buffington improved to 6-2 with the complete game mastery of the Coyotes, as Mside’s offense posted eight runs on 11 hits. The young circle standout earned three of the four pitching triumphs in contests against Bethany College and KWU last weekend. The Mustangs were led at the plate by junior infielder Sydney Petersen. Petersen doubled three times and drove in three runs to guide an 8-0, six-inning victory. Jones-Sitzmann’s crew narrowly missed a perfect weekend. Wurtz poured in six strikeouts at the home team offense in a complete game outing in the opener. Junior outfielder Vanessa Bohuslavsky drove in a run to aid her teammate’s efforts. However, KWU picked up a single tally in the seventh and eighth to gain a 3-2 decision. Coached by Kevin Gall, Jamestown is led by junior outfielder Santina Zito’s robust .449 batting average. She’s laced eight extra-base hits which have driven in 23 runs. Freshman infielder Ally Battistoni isn’t far behind .400 pace, hitting at a .396 rate. The upperclasswoman pitching tandem of senior Kat Miska and junior Katie Merchant has combined for 12 victories. Morningside is scheduled to take to the road for doubleheaders at the College of Saint Mary Wednesday, March 29, and Dakota Wesleyan University Saturday, April 2. They return home Friday, April 8, to face off against Mount Marty University.
Morningside Mustangs NO. 00 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 26 28 29 30
NAME Natalia Linn Mackenna Sidzyik Ellie Cropley Mykel Ann Gray Maria Ras Carlie Benes Mia Barozzo Katherine Wurtz Sydney Struve Lexie Stolen Liz Hammer Hope Rose Brooke Haage Ellie Gengler Maggie Fisher Morgan Nixon Katie Murphy Kennedee Jones Shariah Stuart Taylor Richter Breanna Tjebben Alyx Curran-Lewis Ellie Schwede Grace Buffington Emma Christensen Brianna Lux Halleigh Kokenge
POS. 1B INF OF UT C OF P UT OF/P UT OF C INF INF P UT C/UT INF C INF INF OF INF P C OF OF
YR. Fr. So. Sr. Sr. Fr. Sr. So. Sr. So. Sr. Fr. So. So. Fr. Fr. Sr. Jr. So. Fr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Jr.
HOMETOWN Norfolk, Neb. Omaha, Neb. Sioux City, Iowa Ames, Iowa Bancroft, Neb. Valparaiso, Neb. Santa Paula, Calif. Omaha, Neb. Granville, Iowa Sioux City, Iowa Pierce, Neb. South Sioux City, Neb. LeMars, Iowa Sioux City, Iowa Ankeny, Iowa Omaha, Neb. Sioux Falls, S.D. Ankeny, Iowa Omaha, Neb. Rock Valley, Iowa Fort Dodge, Iowa Plattsmouth, Neb. Hoskins, Neb. Gretna, Neb. Sergeant Bluff, Iowa Arcadia, Iowa Sioux Falls, S.D.
32 33 40 43
Emme Dietrich OF Vanessa Bohuslavsky UT Sami York INF Sydney Petersen INF Aridiana Zamora
Fr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Fr.
Kensett, Iowa David City, Neb. Essex, Iowa Omaha, Neb./Millard North South Sioux City, Neb.
Head coach: Jessica Jones-Sitzmann Assistant coaches: Brooke Pruner, Cindy Foland, Mara Amsberry, Mackenzie Neely
University of Jamestown NO. 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 19 21 22 23 25 27 29 31 33 44 51 55
NAME Lauren Diemert Gentrey Turin La La Romero Paige Eden Marin Rasmussen Santina Zito Hailey Schaffer Taryn Schurhamer Steph Cota Maddy Zander Julia Byrne Camryn Schwab Skylar Hinricher Colby Stickelman Gracie Fisher Sidnie Aasen Sunny Halsey Katie Merchant Skylar Thorpe Kat Miska Molly Haley Kayla Quintanilla Peyton Oelrich Jayda Neiles Megan Neiles Ally Battistoni Katie Reisdorfer
POS. So. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Jr. So. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Sr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Sr.
Head coach: Kevin Gall Assistant coaches: Tom Wilson, Keelee Huff
YR. UTL SS/2B OF INF OF OF P/INF INF OF P/OF 3B OF INF C 3B OF P/3B P OF/C P 3B/C 3B/C OF OF C INF INF/C
HOMETOWN West Fargo, N.D. Sandy, Ore. Surprise, Ariz. Ogema, Saskatchewan Jamestown, N.D. Boise, Idaho Valley City, N.D. Wilton, N.D. Tucson, Ariz. Bismarck, N.D. Andover, Minn. Thief River Falls, Minn. Brookings, S.D. Laramie, Wyo. Bemidji, Minn. Winnipeg, Manitoba Honolulu, Hawaii South Haven, Minn. Petaluma, Calif. Pequot Lakes, Minn. Atwater, Calif. Moreno Valley, Calif. Bemidji, Minn. Winnipeg, Mantitoba Winnipeg, Mantioba Elizabeth, Colo. Fresno, Calif.
REMAINING SCHEDULE Mar 29 Apr 02 Apr 05 APR 08 APR 09 APR 12 Apr 15 Apr 18 Apr 22 April 23 APRIL 30
College of Saint Mary* Dakota Wesleyan* Midland* MOUNT MARTY* BRIAR CLIFF* CONCORDIA* Doane* Dakota State Dordt* Northwestern* HASTINGS*
Home games in bold *Great Plains Athletic Conference game All dates doubleheaders
3 p.m. 1 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 P.M. 1 P.M. 3 P.M. 1 p.m. 2 p.m. 4 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 P.M.
MUSTANGS
The Morningside University experience cultivates a passion for lifelong learning and a dedication to ethical leadership and civic responsibility.
MUSTANGS
The Morningside University experience cultivates a passion for lifelong learning and a dedication to ethical leadership and civic responsibility.