SEWARD, NEB. – Eighteen runs, 27 hits, three doubles, and a home run.
Not a bad nights work for National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics No. 16-ranked Morningside College at Concordia Universitys Plum Creek Park. However, three innings into the Great Plains Athletic Conference twin bill opener, head coach Jessica Jones-Sitzmanns team was held to one hit and a walk, while the host Bulldogs had a 3-0 lead.
Enter the fourth and fifth times for the Maroon at the plate. Freshman outfielder Vanessa Bohulsvalsky (David City, Neb.), in a crunch time spot with two outs and two on in the fourth, delivered a two-run single to cut the margin to 3-2. An inning later, the junior infielder duo of second baseman Bre Tjebben (Fort Dodge, Iowa) and third baseman Morgan Nixon (JR/Omaha, NE) (Omaha, Neb.) turned in a run-scoring single and sacrifice fly to put the Mustangs ahead 4-3. With their teammates looking on anxiously from the visiting dugout, senior Alex Nelson (SR/Sioux Falls, SD) (Sioux Falls, S.D.) and sophomore Lisa Bolton (SO/American Canyon, CA) (American Canyon, Calif.) weaved their way through the home teams attempt at a response, handcuffing CU on two hits over the final four frames to ensure the triumph.
The same pitching duo returned for Morningside and continued to cause the home team difficulty on the scoreboard, holding Concordia to three hits and no earned runs over five innings in the nightcap. It was more than enough for Jones-Sitzmanns offense, who put up eight runs in the first to be on their way to a 14-1 victory that moved the visitors to 26-3 overall and 4-0 in the league.
Senior outfielder Carson Cameron (SR/Herman, NE) (Herman, Neb.) led the swiftly-striking Maroon game two output with three hits, a run scored, and four RBI. Nixon turned in three hits, a run scored, and two RBI; Tjebben came back with two hits, two runs scored, and three RBI which included a home run; and junior catcher Mykel Gray (JR/Ames, IA) (Ames, Iowa) added two hits, two runs scored, and two RBI to headline the attack.
Morningside returns to conference play Thursday, April 1, going to Hastings College for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.
