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Iowa Wesleyan softball wins before COVID interruption
Andy Krutsinger
Apr. 19, 2021 1:41 pm
MT. PLEASANT — You never know what’s going to happen in the world of athletics in 2021. While the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t interrupted much of the high school spring season, Iowa Wesleyan continues to struggle with canceled games.
The Tiger softball team saw that in spades on Friday, when it had the second half of its St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader against Spalding University axed just minutes after the Tigers won Game 1, 3-1.
“Nothing is a surprise at this point anymore,” said pitcher Morgan Christner. “We’ve just got to roll with the punches.”
Christner made the most out of Game 1, keeping the Golden Eagles off balance all night from the pitcher’s circle. Spalding tallied seven hits on the night but could push just one run past home plate.
“I think at the beginning of the season, there was still kind of some getting the kinks out,” Christner said. “Today was a good day.”
And it didn’t hurt to work with the lead for the majority of the game. The Tigers scored on their first at bat, when leadoff hitter Kayla Ford launched a home run off the scoreboard in left field, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
“In any game it’s good to get the ball in play,“ Ford said. ”That’s all I was really looking for.“
The Tigers would score two more runs before the end of the third inning. Yessenia Munoz scored on an error in the second inning, and Alex Eyman knocked in Kara Krieger in the third.
Spalding scored its only run in the top of the third, making it 2-1 at the time, but the Golden Eagles could never break through again.
Shortly after the game, however, the Spalding team was told to pack it up. A late positive test had come in for a player who wasn’t playing in Game 1, so the teams decided to call off the second game.
Iowa Wesleyan was scheduled to play three more times over the weekend, including the scheduled second contest. The Tigers had a home doubleheader against Blackburn postponed one day later.
Ford says although the Tigers could only get one in, they’re just thankful to get to play.
“Last year canceling really put a lot of things in perspective,” Ford said. “Even if there are fans outside the fence or outside of Mt. Pleasant that have to stay home and watch, we’re just thankful for where we’re at.”
Iowa Wesleyan’s Jodie Penman lines a ball into the outfield during Friday’s scheduled doubleheader against Spalding University. (Andy Krutsnger/The Unon)