Mount Mercy freshman Jayna Witzany never imagined she'd be asked to  pitch in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader against Central  Methodist, but that's exactly what happened.

Tawny Menster, Mount Mercy's top pitcher, took a line drove off her  pitching hand on just the second batter she faced in the top of the  first inning and had to leave the game.

Witzany answered the call and pitched the rest of the game as the  Mustangs won the opener, 6-4. Menster iced her right hand after the  leaving the opener and took her normal position in right field for  Game 2 with tape on her hand.

Central Methodist won the nightcap, 7-1, at Busse Field in the Heart  of America Conference doubleheader.

The split snapped Mount Mercy's seven-game winning streak and left the  Mustangs at 18-8 overall and 11-3 in the conference. They trail Grand View by one game in the North Division standings.

Jolona Shield went 2-for-4 with three RBIs in the 6-4 victory in the  opener. Jess Heick had two hits. Payton Bruner scored twice. Witzany  allowed four runs in 6 2/3 innings.

The split left Central Methodist at 19-11 overall and 11-5 in the league.

GAME 1

Central Methodist    004 000 0 - 4 6 2
Mount Mercy          211 101 x - 6 9 0

Wills and Criswell. Menster, Witzany (1) and Miller. W - Witzany  (6-3). L - Wills (6-7). 2B - Heick, Miller. SB - Turner, Miller, Mack.  SH - Miller 2.

GAME 2

Central Methodist    003 100 3 - 7 10 0
Mount Mercy          000 100 0 - 1 4 2