Ravens Softball dropped a pair of home games Saturday.

The Ravens were swept in a cross-divisional doubleheader by the Mount Mercy University Mustangs, losing Game 1 8-1, then falling in Game 2 14-10.

Game 1

An outstanding pitching performance kept the Ravens bats mostly silent in the opening game of the doubleheader. Mount Mercy's Jayna Witzany pitched a gem, striking out 17 batters in a complete game win for the visitors. The only hit by the Ravens was a solo home run by Madison Zaccardo in the fifth inning.

Lacey Foster earned the start in the circle for the Ravens, pitching 4 innings and giving up 4 runs. Abby Pressgrove relieved Foster for 3 innings and also gave up 4 runs as the Ravens lost 8-1.

Game 2

The second game featured two big swings in momentum. Down 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Ravens put up 8 runs.

The first Ravens run scored on a Chloe Strickland single, then Pressgrove scored on a wild pitch. Strickland came around to score on Ally Pickering's single up the middle. Kassidy James followed that up with a 2-RBI single, and then scored on Natalie Sheffield's single. Errors by the Mustangs allowed Sheffield and Zaccardo to score as the Ravens seemingly took control of the game, 8-1.

However, the Mustangs answered right back. A defensive error by the Ravens cracked the door open for Mount Mercy and the Mustangs batters pounded that door open, scoring 11 runs to move in front 12-8.

A 2-run home run by Megan Medhus pulled the Ravens to within 2 in the bottom of the fifth, but the Mustangs answered again with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. Witzany came in to earn the save with the Mustangs winning 14-10.

Kera Willoughby pitched 6.1 innings for the Ravens, giving up just 3 earned runs. Bailey Selvage earned an out in the circle, giving up 3 unearned runs, and Foster picked up an out, giving up 5 runs with only 2 of those registering as earned runs.

Despite racking up 12 hits and scoring 10 runs, the Ravens were unable to secure a split in the doubleheader. Just 5 of MMU's 14 runs were earned in Game 2.

The Ravens (12-17, 2-4) have an opportunity to bounce back quickly as they host a doubleheader against Clarke University starting a 1 p.m. Sunday, April 2 at Ravens Field.