Mount Mercy University - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mustangs stay alive in Heart softball

The Mount Mercy Mustangs got off to a slow start in the Heart of  America Conference softball tournament at Busse Field Wednesday  morning, but they rebounded nicely Wednesday night to stay alive.

Mount Mercy lost to Culver-Stockton, 8-0, in the first game of the  tournament Wednesday morning in just five innings, but the Mustangs  bounced back with a 2-0 victory over William Penn in the losers  bracket on a three-hit shutout by Jayna Witzany.

Mount Mercy (31-21) will face Grand View or Central Methodist in an  elimination game Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Jess Heick went 2-for-3 for the Mustangs in the 2-0 victory over  William Penn. Payton Bruner collected a double and an RBI.

Olivia Brees of Baker pitched a perfect game with 14 strikeouts in a  5-0 victory over William Penn in the first round.

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Campbell lifts Mustangs at Heart tourney

OZARK, Mo. - Dylan Campbell of Mount Mercy sparkled on the mound  Wednesday as the Mustangs blanked Missouri Valley, 7-0, in the first  round of the Heart of America Conference baseball tournament at U.S.  Baseball Park.

Mount Mercy (26-21) will face Central Methodist (32-12) in the  quarterfinals Thursday at 8:30 p.m., matching the No. 7 against the  No. 2 seed.

Campbell (7-4) pitched seven shutout innings in the nine-inning game.  He allowed only four hits, with four strikeouts and two walks. Luke  Richards and Blake Hargens pitched an inning of scoreless ball in  relief.

Evan Jackson went 3-for-5 with two RBIs for Mount Mercy. Kobi  Candaroma went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Tito Berdecia and  Corbin Day also had two hits.

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Mustangs take 4th at Heart golf

SUNRISE BEACH, Mo. - The Mount Mercy men's golf team struggled in the  final round of the Heart of America Conference tournament Wednesday  and finished fourth out of nine teams.

The Mustangs submitted four-man scores of 305 and 303 in the first two  rounds, but they ballooned to 314 Wednesday at The Club at Porto Cima  and finished at 58-over-par 922.

Missouri Valley captured the title at 37-over 901. Hunter Bettis of  Culver-Stockton was the medalist at 2-over 218.

Philip Nelson placed fourth for Mount Mercy at 9-over 225 with rounds  of 77, 72 and 76.

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Mustangs hosting Heart softball tournament

The Mount Mercy Mustangs have defeated every team in the Heart of America Conference softball tournament that's being conducted this week at least once this season.

On the flip side, the Mustangs have lost at least one game to nearly every team in the field (everyone except Benedictine).

Mount Mercy is hosting the league championships at Busse Field this Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. As luck would have it, the Mustangs (30-20) will be playing Culver-Stockton (30-19) in the very first game of the tournament Wednesday morning at 9:30.

“Honestly, it’s wide open,” Mount Mercy Coach Larry Yoder said Tuesday. “Anybody can win it.”

Baker University (41-7) is the No. 1 seed after winning the regular-season title. Grand View (41-8) is the No. 2 seed, putting them at the head of the class.

“Baker would be the favorite because they have the All-American pitcher, and she’s awfully tough,” said Yoder. “And they have a good offensive team, too.

“But they’ve been beaten five times this year (in conference games,” he said. “We actually beat them by the eight-run rule, but the All-American did not pitch that game. And she’s going to pitch every game of this tournament.”

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