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IWU SPLITS WITH CENTRAL METHODIST; FORCES WINNER-TAKE-ALL FOR NAIA OPENING ROUND CHAMPIONSHIP
May 15, 2024

IWU SPLITS WITH CENTRAL METHODIST; FORCES WINNER-TAKE-ALL FOR NAIA OPENING ROUND CHAMPIONSHIP

FAYETTE, Mo. – The No. 16 Indiana Wesleyan softball picked up a win in the opening game but lost in the nightcap to No. 3 Central Methodist, forcing a winner-take-all game Thursday.


THE ESSENTIALS

  • Location: Fayette, Mo.
  • Records: IWU 42-13 I CMU – 50-5 
  • Game One Score: IWU def. CMU 4-3  
  • Game Two Score: CMU def. IWU 8-3
  • NAIA Top-25 Rankings: IWU - #16 – CMU - #3

 


GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

  • IWU jumped on top in the first frame. Morgan Yeater led off the game with an infield single and hustled to second on a base knock from Sadie Harding. After a walk to Brylee Bilger loaded the bags, Courtney Thomas ripped a single to left field, plating Yeater. Becca Wyatt drove in a run with her bases loaded walk before Kamryn Buck's sacrifice fly pushed Bilger across home plate for a 3-0 lead. 
  • The Wildcats saw the home team strike for a run in the third and two more in the fourth, knotting the contest at 3-3. 
  • IWU broke the tie in the sixth. With two down, Makenna Waddell entered as a pinch hitter, singled and moved to second on an error. Arie Hackett came in as a pinch runner and promptly scored on Chloe Tragesser's base knock to center field, making it 4-3.
  • CMU loaded the bags in the sixth and had two on in the seventh, but Alayna Thomas shut down the high-powered offense, securing the victory. 
  • For the game, Fountain, Courtney Thomas and Tragesser had two hits apiece. Buck, Thomas, Tragesser and Wyatt all knocked in a run in the win.  
  • In the circle, Alyssa Wagner worked the first 3.1 innings and had a pair of strikeouts. Alayna Thomas worked the final 3.2 innings for the win. She scattered five hits and did not give up a run while striking out one. 

 

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

  • IWU trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning, but the squad quickly gained a one-run advantage. Yeater led off the inning by reaching on an error and moving to second on the miscue. She scored on Harding's base knock to center field. After Bilger laid down a sacrifice bunt, allowing Harding to move to second base, Courtney Thomas ripped a single to left field, plating Harding for a 2-1 edge.
  • CMU took the lead in the top of the second with a pair of runs. The designated visitors tacked on a run in the third, one in the fourth and two in the fifth for a 7-2 lead.
  • Down 8-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Fountain registered an infield single. Yeater tallied a base hit to right field, scoring Fountain on an error for an unearned run.
  • For the game, Buck, Fountain and Courtney Thomas had two hits apiece. Harding and Thomas drove in one run each.
  • In the circle, Alayna Thomas worked 2.0 innings as did Makenna Waddell. Emma Etter-Cox tossed 1.1 frames, while Maddie Martin closed out the game by throwing 1.2 innings.

 

NEXT TIME OUT

  • The Wildcats return to action tomorrow for the championship game against Central Methodist. Game time is slated for 12:00 p.m. EST.
  • Live video and stats will be available at IWUWildcats.com.

 

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