Mount Mercy Academy hasn't had much luck against St. Mary recently, but that could start to change on Monday. The Magic will be playing in front of their home fans against the Lancers at 6:00 p.m. Each of these teams will be battling to keep a four-game winning streak alive.
While Mount Mercy Academy's victory against Charter School for Applied Tech wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Magic skirted past the Eagles 9-7. While the Magic didn't have the best season last year (they finished 3-10), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Taylor Jahn made a splash no matter where she played. She tossed 1.1 innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up a single earned run in three consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going a perfect 2-for-2 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run. She also put up a double, which was her first of the season.
Jahn wasn't the only one making solid contact as four players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Abbagail Hunt, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with two RBI and one run. Another was Tessa Freedenberg, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with two stolen bases and one run.
Mount Mercy Academy always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .667. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask St. Mary's). They blew past Mount St. Mary Academy 22-4 on Friday. The team's explosion at the plate also rewarded the Lancers with their most commanding win of the season.
Like Mount Mercy Academy, St. Mary's also got a great game from a two-way player: Danielle Spiegel. On the mound, she struck out nine batters over five innings while giving up three earned (and one unearned) runs off six hits. Those nine strikeouts gave Spiegel a new career-high. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one triple, two RBI, and one double.
In other batting news, Ella Dovey was a standout: she got on base in all four of her plate appearances with three runs, one stolen base, and two RBI. That's the most runs she has posted since back in May of 2024. Renee Henning was another key player, going 3-for-4 with three runs, one triple, and two RBI.
St. Mary's win was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 5-3. Those road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 13.3 runs over those games. As for Mount Mercy Academy, their win bumped their record up to 4-0.
Mount Mercy Academy's speedy runners might be the difference in Monday's matchup. The Magic have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for St. Mary's, though, as they've been averaging only 1 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Mount Mercy Academy continue to outrun the ball?
Mount Mercy Academy couldn't quite get it done against St. Mary's when the teams last played back in May of 2024 as they fell 4-0. Will the Magic have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
