In the Lancer's third game of the weekend at the Ambrose Dome in Davenport, Iowa, the Mount Marty Lancers clashed with the Saint Xavier Cougars Sunday morning. The game unfolded with Saint Xavier (IL) entering with a record of 5-2, while Mount Marty stood at 3-6. The Saint Xavier Cougars emerged victorious, defeating the Mount Marty Lancers with a final score of 9-2.

The Saint Xavier Cougars wasted no time asserting their dominance, scoring 4 runs in the opening inning. A series of hits and well-executed plays allowed them to take an early lead. Mount Marty managed to respond with a run of their own in the bottom of the first inning, but Saint Xavier maintained control of the game. Despite Mount Marty's efforts to rally, they struggled to break through the Cougars strong defense and pitching.

On the offensive side, the Lancers could not get their bats going. Janeah Castro had the only RBI of the game on a walk. Abby Johnson and Emma Bloome were the only scores that the Lancers had, with Johnson reaching home on a Cougar error and Emma Bloome scoring on Janeah Castro's walk. Saint Xavier continued to extend their lead, gradually widening the gap between themselves and the Lancers.

Pitching proved to be a key factor in Saint Xavier's victory, with L. Summers delivering a solid performance on the mound, earning the win with a record of 3-1. On the other side, Mount Marty's McKenzie Gray struck out 5 batters, but still faced challenges, resulting in a loss and a record of 1-2 for the 2024 season.

Game 2:

The Mount Marty Lancers played their final game of the weekend against the Madonna University Crusaders at the Ambrose Dome. The Mount Marty Lancers entered the game with a 3-7 record, while the Madonna University Crusaders boasted a strong 9-1 record. Ultimately, the Lancers fell to the Crusaders with a final score of 0-4. 

The Crusaders took an early lead, scoring 2 runs in the second inning, followed by additional runs in the third and fourth innings, steadily extending their advantage over the Lancers. Madonna's offensive dominance, combined with solid defense, proved too challenging for Mount Marty to overcome. Defensively, the Lancers only committed 2 errors and were very successful in closing out tough innings, leaving 9 Madonna players stranded on bases.

Pitching played a crucial role in Madonna's victory, with L. Harris delivering a stellar performance on the mound, pitching a complete game shutout and earning the win with a record of 2-1 for the season. Despite Mount Marty's efforts, they struggled to generate offense against Madonna's strong pitching and defense. The Lancers were held to just 3 hits throughout the game from Abby Johnson, Raegan Harper, and Olivia Valdez, but were unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities. 

Mount Marty's Makayla Graunke started on the mound but faced challenges, resulting in a loss with a record of 1-3. Madison Kovar also made an appearance in relief but couldn't halt Madonna's offensive momentum.

The Lancers will be back in action in sunny Viera Florida, as they will spend their Spring Break playing 10 games over the course of 6 days.