Wichita, Kan. -- The Nebraska Wesleyan softball team opened the 2016 season with three victories at the Friends University Tournament played over the weekend (Mar. 4-5) in Wichita, Kansas.  NWU went 1-1 on Friday then finished 2-1 on day two.

NWU opened the year on Friday afternoon with a 4-1 victory over Bethany College.  The Prairie Wolves led 2-0 after three innings when Bethany cut the lead in half with a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning.  Rachel Kubik hit a solo home run for NWU in the bottom of the sixth and Jordan Arndt had an RBI single in the same inning to give the Prairie Wolves more cushion. 

Marisa Garver got the victory on the mound allowing just two hits and one run in the complete game win.  Eight different players had hits for the Prairie Wolves offense.

To close out the day on Friday night, Friends jumped ahead early and earned the 9-2 victory.  The Falcons scored four runs in the bottom of the 1st as the big blow was a 3-run HR in their first time at the plate.

NWU actually led 1-0 to start the game as Betsy Reimer singled and scored on an error.  The Prairie Wolves didn't score again until the sixth inning as Kassie Knauss singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Madi Francis.

Saturday also didn't start out well for Nebraska Wesleyan as Kansas Wesleyan handed the Prairie Wolves an 11-2 loss in five innings.  KWU scored three runs in the second inning to get the early lead.

NWU bounced back with two runs in the top of the third inning.  Rachel Kubik had an RBI single and Hunter Bailey also singled and scored.  That momentum didn't last long as the Coyotes scored five runs in the bottom of the third then added one in the fourth and two more in the fifth to end the game due to the run rule.

NWU had four hits in the game, as four different players had singles. Katie Latuska took the loss in her first career start  allowing eight runs (four earned) on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings.

Marisa Garver pitched a four-hit complete game shutout to lead the Prairie Wolves to a 8-0 victory over Bacone in the second game of the day.   Garver struck out two and walked only one in the six innings of work.

Betsy Riemer and Rachel Kubik both had two hits to lead the Prairie Wolves.  Madi Francis hit a 2-run double and Brianne Conover also had an RBI double in the game.

Nebraska Wesleyan closed the tournament with a 9-6 win over Bethel in 11 innings in the final game of the night.  No statistics were available for that game.

NWU plays again on Sunday as they face 13th-ranked University of Science & Arts (Okla.) in Wichita, Kansas.