Orange City, IA -- Mount Marty softball went 1-1 on the first day of the softball GPAC tournament. The Lancers hold the #8 seed, and fell to #1 Northwestern College with a 5-2 score. Mount Marty kept their post season run alive after defeating #4 Dordt University 9-3 in the elimination round.

#1 Northwestern is currently 2-0 after the day, while #5 Briar Cliff University and #8 Mount Marty are 1-1.

Game 1 
Mount Marty's first game was played at 12:00 against Northwestern College. After a scoreless first inning, the Red Raiders were able to get one run on the board. NWC would add four more runs to their score by the fifth inning, one coming from a home run. 

The Lancers were able to get their first run on the board in the top of the fifth inning, with Janeah Castro scoring on Lilinoe Nihi's single to right field.

Mount Marty's second run came from Elisabeth McGill's home run over the left-center fence to make it a 5-2 game. The last inning and a half remained scoreless, keeping the final score 5-2.

McKenzie Gray threw a complete game for the Lancers, getting strikeouts on the day. Gray allowed three earned runs on six hits. 

Game 2
Mount Marty put five of their nine runs up in the seventh inning to help secure their win over #4 Dordt University. The final score was 9-3. 

Mount Marty struck first in the top of the second inning, with Lilinoe Nihi homering to start it off for the team. Two more runs were added for the Lancers in the following inning after Bailey Kortan doubled to bring home Ella Ray and Kayleen Jacinto. 

Jacinto singled to bring home Sami Noble in the fourth inning to make it a 4-0 game.

The fifth inning remained scoreless for both teams, but the Defenders were able to bring the game within in one in the bottom of the sixth. Dordt put three runs on the board to make it 4-3.

Mount Marty had bases loaded in the top of the seventh with zero outs when Adrian Schoby came in to pinch hit for Elisabeth McGill. Schoby singled to right field to score both Kortan and Ella Ray. Following that, Janeah Castro singled to bring home Sydney Kotz. The next run came on Sami Noble's fielder's choice, with McGill reaching home. The last run of the game game from Sarah Hart's ground out, allowing Castro to score. 

Makayla Graunke started the game and is credited with the win. Graunke threw the first four innings, getting three strikeouts and allowing zero runs. Hannah Keith pitched the following to innings, getting two strikeouts and allowing two earned runs on four hits. Madison Kovar finished out the game for the Lancers.

Up Next
Mount Marty was able to survive and advance to day two. They face Briar Cliff at 12:00 PM. The winner will face Northwestern at 2:00. If the winner beats NWC, there will be a second game to follow as it is double elimination.