Pride softball opens home and Heart schedule with split against MNU

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Facing a quick turnaround upon returning from Florida just two days ago, the Clarke University softball team begin their Heart of America Athletic Conference schedule with their first home games of the 2026 season as they split a doubleheader against MidAmerica Nazarene University on Friday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park.

The first game of the day was a pitchers' duel between both MNU and CU starters Mandy Brown and Emma Slayback for five innings as the only run scored came via an unearned tally for the Pioneers in the top of the third before the visitors would tack on two runs in the sixth and four more in the seventh to lead 7-0.

Slayback still finished with a solid line of six-plus innings pitched allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits and two walks while striking out three despite the loss but it was Brown that shined, throwing a complete game four-hitter while striking out 11 Pride batters but did give up a three-run home run from Ellie Flanagan in the bottom of the seventh that made it a 7-3 game, where the game would finish.

That swing from Flanagan seemingly jump started the Clarke offense, that only recorded three hits in game one prior to that, as they came out guns blazing with a four-spot in the bottom of the first in game two behind a Lauren Hefel RBI ground out and a bases loaded double that brought all three runners home from Hannah Palzkill made it 4-0 CU early.

Two innings later, more defensive miscues from the Pride could allow MNU to tie the game as two errors on the same play put the Pioneers on the board for two runs then a single and a sacrifice fly tied the game at 4-4.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Pride jumped right back on top when Kaylie Holtam singled hom Palzkill, who walked earlier in the inning then Oakleigh Harman provided more cushion for CU, first in the fourth with an RBI double then making the score 7-5 in the bottom of the sixth with a sacrifice fly.

In the top of the sixth inning, Payge Pyszka would enter out of the bullpen with no outs and runners on second and third as she went on to strike out two batters and force another to foul out with one run scoring on a dropped third strike that was thrown out at first, but Pyszka limited the damage to allow Clarke to remain up a run before Harman's insurance run in the bottom half and a scoreless seventh for Pyszka's first career save.

Pyszka finished with two innings of shutout ball, allowing one hits and striking out two after Meredith Gatto pitched five innings allowing five runs on six hits, four walks, and striking out five with Holtam, Palzkill, and starting catcher Taryn Hoffman all finishing with two-hit games in the win.

Pride softball will host their second-straight home doubleheader when they welcome Graceland University to Veterans Memorial Park on Saturday, Mar. 14 for a 1:00 p.m. CT scheduled first pitch of game one.