GULF SHORES, ALA. – Senior pitcher Hallie Misiaszek (Mitchell, S.D.) and sophomore staff mate Katie Wurtz (Omaha, Neb.) combined on a game one shutout, helping send National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics No. 20-ranked Morningside College home with momentum Sunday, March 8.
After opening their stay at the 2020 Gulf Coast Invitational with three narrow defeats out of a tough 0-4 start, head coach Jessica Jones-Sitzmanns squad turned fortunes around. They blanked Culver-Stockton College 4-0 and upended Martin Methodist, another program receiving recognition on the national poll, 4-2.
It started with Misiaszek and Wurtz handcuffing CSC on four hits while striking out five. Offensively, the Maroon, triggered by the trio of junior infielder Cortney Joiner (Carlisle, Iowa), junior outfielder Carson Cameron (Herman, Neb.) and sophomore infielder Morgan Nixon (Omaha, Neb.) combining to go five-for-12 with three runs scored and three RBI, put up a pair of two-run rallies in the third and fifth.
Game two saw more of the same. Senior catcher Kelsey Spongberg (Sutton, Neb.) crushed a two-run home run, and freshman infielder Taylor Richter (Rock Valley, Iowa) produced a run-scoring sacrifice fly to lead the offense. It was more than enough for freshman hurler Lisa Bolton (American Canyon, Calif.) had an impressive start, going five and a third innings with a pair of strikeouts, and Misiaszek came out of the bullpen shut down the opposition on one hit and striking two to close out the victory.
Mside (12-6) returns to the Midwest Wednesday, March 11, for a doubleheader clash with Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Kansas Wesleyan University. Game time is 12 p.m. at KWUs Bill Burke Park.
