Mankato, MN – The Madison Night Mares (11-0) remained unbeaten Sunday night with a doubleheader sweep of the Mankato Habaneros (2-9), highlighted by an improbable Game 2 comeback.

Game 1

Mankato struck first in the opening inning when Katy Olive (Miami University Ohio) delivered an RBI single to make it 1-0. The Habaneros doubled their lead in the fourth on a solo home run by Olivia Pichardo (University of California), while Madison’s offense struggled to find its rhythm early.

The Night Mares broke through in the fifth when Hilary Blomberg (University of Wisconsin) launched a two-run homer to even the score at 2-2. Madison grabbed its first lead an inning later on an RBI single from Ahmari Braden (University of Pittsburgh), and Ava Carroll (University of Washington) followed with a sacrifice fly to extend the advantage to 4-2.

Mankato answered in the bottom of the sixth, tying the game on a two-run double from Izzy Vick (University of St. Thomas). The deadlock didn’t last long, however, as Madison scored twice in the seventh to regain the lead. Kylinn Stangl (University of Minnesota) homered in the bottom half to bring the Habaneros within one, but the Night Mares held on for a 6-5 victory.

Leila Ammon (Mississippi State University) worked the first five innings for Madison before Kendall Weik (North Carolina State University) tossed two innings of relief to earn the win. Sailor Hall (Pittsburgh State University) was charged with the loss for Mankato.

Game 2

The Habaneros jumped out to an early advantage in the second game. Stangl drove in two runs with a first-inning single, and Addie Garr (Augustana College) added a two-run hit later in the frame to give Mankato a 4-0 lead.

Tele Jennings (University of Arizona) put Madison on the board with a solo home run in the third, but the Habaneros responded with a run in the bottom of the inning and added three more in the fourth to build an 8-1 cushion.

Jennings collected another RBI with a single in the fifth before Ryan Maddox (University of Washington) delivered a two-run double in the sixth, trimming the deficit to 8-4 and setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

Trailing 8-5 in the seventh inning, Madison loaded the bases and brought Maddox to the plate. Down to her final strike, she ripped a three-run double into the gap to tie the game at 8-8, completing a remarkable rally from seven runs down and forcing extra innings.

The Night Mares finally grabbed their first lead of the game in the eighth when Blomberg hit an RBI single. Kira Smith (Colorado State University) followed with a sacrifice fly to provide an important insurance run and make it 10-8. Mankato scored once in the bottom of the eighth, but Madison closed out the comeback victory, 10-9.

Weik earned her second win of the day in relief, while Morgan Kostecka (Wisconsin-Green Bay) took the loss for the Habaneros.

The Night Mares conclude the series in Mankato on Monday night at 6:35 p.m. Madison returns to Warner Park on Thursday to face the Wausau Ignite, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m.