WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Mount Mercy softball team began the season  with a pair of excruciating defeats at the RossMatt Tournament  Thursday at the Diamondplex Softball Facility in Florida.

The Mustangs lost to 22nd-ranked Southeastern University, 7-5, after building a 5-4 lead after five innings in their first game.

Mount Mercy fell to Olivet Nazarene, 13-11, in eight innings in the second contest.

Emily Oler hit a home run and drove in two runs for the Mustangs against Southeastern of Florida. Jolona Shield was 2-for-4 with an  RBI. Morgan Braughton collected a triple and an RBI.

Madelyn Irwin allowed only two runs in five innings for Mount Mercy against Southeastern and had a no-decision.

Mount Mercy     021 200 0 - 5 7 1
Southeastern    010 303 x - 7 9 2

W - Benson-Ross. L - Witzany.