LINCOLN, Neb. -- Madi Francis singled up the middle to drive in Kaley Stokey with the winning run as Nebraska Wesleyan rallied back for a 6-5 extra innings victory over Hastings College in game two of a GPAC softball doubleheader on Thursday night (April 28).  The Broncos defeated the Prairie Wolves 3-1 in the first game of the night.

With the victory, Nebraska Wesleyan has clinched a spot in the GPAC Postseason Tournament that takes place next week.

In each of the final three innings, the Prairie Wolves had to rally to keep the game alive.  Trailing 3-1 heading to the bottom of the 7th, once again NWU was poised to send the game to extra innings. Jordan Ardnt walked with one out, then an error put two runners on with one out.  Danelle Snyder got an infield single to drive in the first run, then Nicole Vana tied the game with a ground out to second base.  The game-winning run was at third base, but Hastings got a strikeout to send the game to extra innings.

Hastings jumped ahead with a run on three hits in the top of the 8th inning to lead 4-3 forcing NWU to rally again.

Rachel Kubik led off the bottom of the inning with a double to left center field.  It was a historic hit for Kubik as she set the new career NWU school record for doubles with the hit.  Kubik's great hustle extended the game.  Maddy Ethen hit a slow rolling ground ball to the second basemen who made a good play to throw her out at first.  Kubik went to third and attempted to score on that ground ball and slid around the tag to tie the game.

Once again Hastings got a run in the 9th inning as Choloe Boeka drove in a run with a hard single to left field.

In the bottom of the 9th inning, Brianne Conover led off with a single to center field.  Snyder walked to put the winning run on first base with no outs.  A foul out lleft the runners in place with one out.  Nicole Vana hit a hard grounder to the shortstop who tried to get the lead runner, but NWU beat the throw to load the bases.  Kassie Knauss grounded out to the shortstop to allow Conover to score the tying run.  Kubik walked to load the bases once again to bring up Francis.  Thriving under pressure, Francis calmly drilled a single to center for the walk-off victory.

For NWU, it was their 6th extra innings victory on the year.

Nebraska Wesleyan had eight hits in the game, but did leave 17 runners stranded on base.  Kubik was 2-3 with a double, while Snyder was 2-4 with two RBI.

Game one was controlled by Hastings pitcher Taylor Erlenbusch.  Kassie Knauss got a single as the second batter of the game, but NWU was retired in order every inning until the 7th.

Hastings scored two unearned runs in the top of the third inning to get a 2-0 lead.  They added another run in the top of the 6th.

Knauss got the second NWU hit by leading off the 7the inning with a double.  She would score on a single by Jordan Arndt.  NWU had the tying run on first base with two outs, but a foul out ended the game.

Nebraska Wesleyan is scheduled to end the game on Saturday afternoon against Mount Marty for senior day weather permitting.