Sioux Center, Iowa - The Comets Softball team were back in action on Saturday with games against the Morningside Mustangs and the Dordt Defenders. Mayville State dropped the opener against the Mustangs 10-1 but earned a split on the day with a 2-1 win over the Defenders.

Game 1:
The Mustangs opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with a RBI single then added a double steal of home and second base for their other run. That made the score 2-0 in favor of Morningside.

The Comets responded in the top of the third inning as Erika Howell coaxed a walk and Sam Shumway single to put two runners on with no outs.

Mackenzie Iverson then brought Howell home on a RBI ground out. That run sliced the deficit to 2-1.

Morningside's offense got untracked in the fourth inning with two more runs, then added four runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth to give the Mustangs the 10-1 win.

Alyssa Avila went 2 for 2 to pace the Comets offense. Emily Haines allowed two earned runs on four innings pitched with two strikeouts.

"Emily got us off to a good start, however, we need to be better out of the bull pen. Offensively, I would have liked to see or 1-9 adjust a lot sooner as I felt we made it easy for the opposing pitcher to pitch a full 7," said head coach Jordan Olson.

Game 2:
Mayville State had to regroup quickly with another game on tap against the host team Dordt.

The Comets got on the board early in game two, as Iverson and Megan Elliott singled in the bottom of the first.

Lindsay Tulla then cracked a single to right field which the right field had trouble corralling and allowed both Iverson and Elliot to score. This gave the Comets an early 2-0 advantage.

That was all the offense Lacey Mathiowetz needed on the day, as she went seven strong innings. She scattered six hits and punched out five Defenders.

Dordt was able to scratch out one run in the sixth, but Mathiowetz shut down the last four batters to seal the win for the Comets 2-1.

"I was really pleased to see our team come back after the Morningside game and compete. We had a freshman on the mound with her first collegiate start and for her to go a full 7 against a tough GPAC opponent shows a lot for the future of this program. Our defense played stellar behind her and this game is the type of softball you love to see, a tight game where each play matters," said Olson.

The Comets record now stands at 2-10 and will have 10 games in the next week and a half. Mayville State travels down to Kansas next weekend to participate in the Friends University tournament on Friday and Saturday, then will head to Tucson to wrap up their heavy preseason schedule.

"Overall, we are making strides as a program.. As I mentioned early in the season, it is a marathon not a sprint. We need to stay focused on our in house details and take care of the COMETS across the chest. We have a lot of good parts and we are on track to have them gel at the right time in season if we stay focused. I am proud of this group this weekend against tough GPAC competition," added Olson.