FROM JAMESTOWN ATHLETICS

SIOUX CITY, Iowa– The University of Jamestown softball team split a doubleheader Saturday afternoon against No. 24 Morningside University, winning 4-1 in the opener before the Mustangs took the second game 6-0.

The game was scoreless through the first three innings before the Jimmies got on the board in the fourth. With one out, Ally Battistoni (FR/Elizabeth, Colo.) singled and moved to second on a single by Santina Zito (JR/Boise, Idaho). Katie Merchant (JR/South Haven, Minn.) walked to load the bases, then Gracie Fisher (SO/Bemidji, Minn.) drew another walk to force home Battistoni. Katie Reisdorfer (SR/Fresno, Calif.) followed with a single to left to bring in Zito for a 2-0 lead.

Morningside cut the lead in half with a run in the bottom of the fourth, but the Jimmies responded in their next time up. Gentrey Turin (SO/Sandy, Ore.) led off with a single, then moved to third as LaLa Romero (FR/Surprise, Ariz.) reached on an error. Battistoni doubled to right to score Turin and move Romero to third. However, the Mustangs were able to get the next three outs of the inning without allowing any additional runs.

With two outs in the top of the sixth, Romero delivered a clutch single to score Skylar Thorpe (FR/Petaluma, Calif.) from second base to push the Jimmies’ lead to 4-1.

The four runs was more than enough support for Kat Miska (SR/Pequot Lakes, Minn.), who allowed just one run on three hits, striking out seven in seven innings pitched. Miska needed just 84 pitches for the complete game and faced only three batters over the minimum.

In game two, the Jimmies were not able to get anything going offensively, as Morningside’s Grace Buffington retired all 21 batters she faced. The Mustangs scored twice in the first and plated four more in the fifth to account for their six runs.

Jamestown (15-13, 2-2 GPAC) will play a non-conference doubleheader against the University of Mary (N.D.) in Bismarck beginning at 12 p.m. Wednesday.