Mustangs carry confidence Into NAIA Opening Round

After helping Morningside reach the NAIA Softball National Tournament a year ago, players like Adeline Fliege and Mackenzi Harrel enter this year's atmosphere with added confidence and a clearer understanding of what awaits next week.

Morningside earned an automatic bid by being the runner-up in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, receiving a No. 4 seed in the pod hosted by University of Sciences & Arts of Oklahoma.

The Mustangs (30-18) will play Friends (Kan.) at noon Monday to kick off their 16th appearance in the national tournament. Of the five teams in the Chickasha, Oklahoma, pod, Morningside has the most NAIA Tournament appearances.

"We know we belong this year," said Harrel, who attained All-GPAC First Team status by leading the Mustangs with 43 RBIs and 11 home runs. "We're less of an underdog."

While the Mustangs might be the most experienced program among the schools playing in Oklahoma, this group broke a three-year skid last year and played in their first national tournament.

"We played some good teams last year, and playing down there made us realize that that was the best competition we saw," said Fliege, the Mustangs' other All-GPAC first teamer. "This preseason set us up, and we saw teams during the selection show that we've played. We were right there with them, and that gives us a lot of confidence."

Fliege won 17 games in the circle, and allowed 50 earned runs.

Fliege and her teammates saw seven familiar opponents make the NAIA Tournament, including Dordt and Midland out of the Great Plains Athletic Conference. The Mustangs won three games apiece over the Defenders and the Warriors, and in non-conference play, they defeated Benedictine. The highest-ranked team they played this season was No. 2 Oklahoma City, which the Mustangs played during last year's national tourney.

"I think we're prepped for those big games and those big moments," coach Brooke Pruner said. "We're just going to keep working it at the plate and in the circle."

While it wasn't against a national qualifier, Pruner believed the turning point of the season came April 14 in a two-game sweep over Northwestern. The Mustangs had finally returned home after nearly being away for a month, and the Mustangs played fundamental softball to prepare for a tough stretch of games that included Concordia, Dakota Wesleyan, and Midland. Harrel hit two homers against the Red Raiders.

"We have more knowledge and confidence this time around," Harrel said. "Knowing we can compete with those top teams allows us to be better overall. It's awesome to know everyone has confidence going up to the plate, knowing they can hit a home run, or to just get a bunt down. (Coach Pruner) loves to bunt. We can score in so many different ways."

Morningside collectively hit .315, and scored 285 runs. In 54 games, it hit 77 doubles, 17 triples and 27 homers. In 17 games throughout April, the Mustangs hit .326.

The Mustangs' pitching staff amassed a 2.58 earned run average throughout GPAC play, and allowed 52 earned runs during that stretch.

"This is the group we want to have," Pruner said. "Our pitchers have done a great job of keeping hitters at-bay all season. If we can add the bats in, we're going to be in good shape. The high-pressure moments are not new to them. I think a lot of our success has been because they've been there, done that."