Kansas City, Mo. -- It took an extra 24 hours, but it was worth the wait for the Nebraska Wesleyan softball team as they defeated Avila University 5-4 in game one of a softball doubleheader that concluded on Wednesday afternoon (Mar. 9).  Avila won the second game 11-6.

NWU trailed 4-3 against Avila in the first game heading into the 6th inning on Tuesday afternoon, but heavy rains forced the game to be completed on Wednesday.  When the two teams returned to the field, it was the Prairie Wolves that took advantage of the delay as they rallied for the victory. 

Kassie Knauss drilled a 2-run double down the left field line to drive in two runs, including the go-ahead run as NWU went ahead 5-4 in the top of the 7th inning on Wednesday once the game had been resumed.  With the one run lead, NWU retired Avila in order in the bottom of the 7th to secure the 5-4 victory and earn their fifth win of the season.

NWU trailed 4-0 after three innings in the opening game before they got the offense going.  Rachel Kubik opened the 4th inning with a walk, then Madi Francis put two runners on.  Jordan Arndt doubled to center field to drive in two runs and cut the lead in half.  The Prairie Wolves added another run in the 5th inning as Knauss hit a sacrifice fly to left field.

The game then went into a delay and had to be finished on Wednesday.  Since the Prairie Wolves two scheduled doubleheaders in Arkansas had been cancelled due to the forecasted rain the two teams agreed to come back the next day to finish.

Marisa Garver was the winning pitcher to improve to 4-1 on the season.  She allowed four earned runs on eight hits with two strikeouts.

Betsy Reimer and Hunter Bailey both had two hits to lead the NWU offense.  Reimer, Knauss, Madi Francis and Arndt all had doubles.

Game two got off to a great start for the Prairie Wolves as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings.   NWU scored two runs in the first inning, as Arndt had an RBI single and a run scored on an error.  In the 2nd inning, Rachel Kubik pounded out a 2-run double to put the Prairie Wolves ahead 4-0.

A 2-run triple by Avila in the 3rd inning was part of three run inning as they pulled within one run.  Hunter Bailey hit a sacrifice fly for the Prairie Wolves in the top of the 5th inning for a 5-3 lead, but that lead would go away.  A 3-run home run highlighted a four run inning for Avila in the 5th as they took the lead.  They added a 2-run HR in the 6th with four more runs to pull away.

Kubik and Maddy Ethen both had two hits for the Prairie Wolves offense as they finished with nine total hits.  Claire Poppe started on the mound for NWU and went 3 1/3 innings allowing one earned run and five hits. LeighAnn Novotny took the loss in relief giving up eight runs in 2 2/3 innings.

NWU will next play on March 15 in the home opener versus York College.