YANKTON, SD -- Mount Marty split with Doane University today to get a ticket back to the GPAC Tournament for the third year straight. MMU dropped the first game with a 5-1 score, but won the second game on a bases loaded, walk-off fielder's choice. 

Coach Kayla Bryant will be taking her team back to the tournament in her second season at the helm. "It is great for the program and the team to make it back for the third straight year," Coach Bryant says. "I am proud of the girls and what they have done this season."

Abigail Page, a senior from O'Neil, Neb., picked up four RBIs, and three hits throughout the series. "I'm really excited and happy to be going back for the third year straight, this team worked hard all season to get to this point," Page said. "We have nothing to lose going into the tournament, so we are just going to show and prove that we belong here."

Game One
Mount Marty was the first to score in game one, with Kayleen Jacinto getting across home plate on Abigail Page's ground out to short stop. Jacinto got on base in with a triple to right field to start the offense for the Lancers. 

Doane tied up the game in the top of the third after the team doubled to center field to push a runner across home plate. The Tigers added four more runs in the top of the seventh to take their first lead, and extend it to 5-1 for the final score. 

Elisabeth McGill and Jacinto led the Lancers with two hits apiece. Page got the lone RBI for the team. 

McKenzie Gray threw the first six innings and takes the loss in the game. Gray had two strikeouts and allowed four earned runs on nine hits. 

Game Two
Mount Marty had a 3-2 lead after the the first two innings. Doane University tied the game up 3-3 in the fourth inning.

The score remained 3-3 heading into the seventh inning. The Tigers were able to get a run across in the top to take a 4-3 lead. They were to score thanks to a single to center field.

The Lancers tied the game up 4-4 with Abigail Page scoring Ella Ray on a single to center field. Lilinoe Nihi's fielder's choice brought home Bailey Kortan to get the walk off win in the bottom of the seventh.

Five Lancers picked up RBIs in the game, with Page claiming one them and getting three hits.

Makayla Graunke started in the circle for the team, getting three strikeouts in the game and giving up two runs on five hits. Hannah Keith pitched the last three and two-thirds innings to get the win. Keith had one strikeout and gave up two runs on six hits.

Up Next
Thanks to the split today, MMU was able to hold on to their #8 spot in the GPAC to make a trip back to the conference tournament for the third year in a row. The Lancers won the tournament last year to make it to the NAIA Opening Round. 

Mount Marty is now 17-20 on the season and 10-12 in conference play. They will play on Wednesday in Orange City, Iowa against #1 seed Northwestern.