PERU, Neb. – Nebraska Wesleyan jumped out to a 9-0 lead then held off a furious Peru State rally as the Prairie Wolves defeated the Bobcats 9-7 in game one of a softball doubleheader on Thursday afternoon (Mar. 22) in Peru, Neb. Peru State shutout NWU 2-0 in game two as the teams split the non-conference doubleheader.
NWU looked like they would make quick work of the Bobcats in the opener and end the game with the run rule. The Prairie Wolves scored three runs in the 2
nd inning, two more in the 3
rd and four in the 5
th to take the 9-0 lead heading into the bottom of the inning.
Needing just three outs to end the game, Peru State kept the game alive with a 2-run home run in the bottom of the 5
th. They started the 6
th inning with another 2-run HR making the score 9-4 heading to the final frame.
Peru State's power continued to show as they led off the 7
th with a solo HR, then had the next three batters reach base. Back-to-back RBI singles made the score 9-7 with the bases loaded. NWU pitcher
Kailey Meyer was able to get the next two batters to strike out to earn her seventh win of the season.
Seven different Prairie Wolves had multi-hit games as NWU pounded out 16 total hits.
Maddy Ethen was 2-4 with a double and team-high three RBI,
Jordan Arndt was 2-3 scoring three runs with a double.
Morgan Shipley and
Danelle Snyder both had two hits with doubles.
Kayla Prai,
Alycin Braun and
Kailey Meyer also each had two hits.
Peru State pitcher Megan Hartman was the story of game two as she threw a complete game shutout. After getting 16 hits in the opening game, NWU managed just three in game two.
The Bobcats scored a single run in both the 4
th and 5
th innings and that was all that Hartman would need to earn the victory.
NWU pitcher
Jessie Briley gave up only six hits and two earned runs with three strikeouts but took the loss to drop to 4-3.
Snyder,
Katie Stanzel and Savannah Lakin had the three singles for NWU.
Nebraska Wesleyan will have one more non conference doubleheader on March 28 at College of Saint Mary before they begin Iowa Conference play on March 30 hosting Wartburg College.
