CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Despite having a chance to win late in both games, the Nebraska Wesleyan University softball team dropped a pair of heartbreaking Iowa Conference games at Coe College on Tuesday (April 10) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Coe edged NWU 4-2 in 12 innings in the opener then rallied back to take game two, 9-6.
 
It marks the first two conference losses of the year for the Prairie Wolves as they drop to 4-2 in IIAC play and 17-11 overall.
 
Jordan Arndt hit a home run in the top of the 1^st inning in game one and that was the only run scored over the next six innings.  NWU led 1-0 heading into the bottom of the 7^th, but a one out walk put a runner on and she was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.  With two outs, the Kohawks hit a triple to tie the game and send it to extra innings.
 
Twice more in extra innings the Prairie Wolves held leads and had chance to close out the victory only to see Coe rally back.  In the top of the 10^th, Danelle Snyder singled and moved up to third base with two outs.  Katie Stanzel got the go-ahead RBI single up the middle putting NWU up 2-1.
 
Down to their final out, Coe answered with a solo home run in the bottom of the 10^th to send the game to the 11^th inning.  Once again in the 11^th, the Prairie Wolves took the lead as pinch runner Kayla Prai was able to score on a wild pitch.  The Kohawks tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the 11^th on a fielder's choice ground out to shortstop.
 
Finally in the 12^th inning, a lead off triple put Coe in prime position.  A single by Madi Miller sealed the 4-3 victory.
 
NWU ended the opening game with just five hits off Coe pitcher Alyssa Olson who struck out 11 Kohawk batters.  Kailey Meyer threw all 11 innings for the Prairie Wolves allowing four earned runs on eight hits.  She struck out eight batters and walked four to fall to 10-3 on the season.  Danelle Snyder was 2-4 at the plate to lead the Prairie Wolves.
 
Coe jumped ahead quickly in game two getting a home run from their leadoff batter Haley Jones.  A two-run double later in the inning gave the Kohawks a 3-0 lead after one inning of play.
 
NWU came back and took the lead in the top of the 5^th inning as they scored five runs on six straight hits.  Snyder and Meyer each had RBI singles and Peyton Swanson hit a two-run double.  Prai drove in the final run on a fielder's choice.
 
The Prairie Wolves went up 6-4 in the 6^th inning when Prai tripled and scored on a hit by Nicole Vana.
 
Unfortunately, just like game one the Prairie Wolves were unable to hold on to the lead and earn the win.  Coe scored five runs in the bottom of the 6^th inning to take the lead and earn the sweep of the Prairie Wolves.
 
Jessie Briley started on the mound throwing the first four innings allowing four earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.  Meyer pitched the next 1 1/3 innings giving up five earned runs and she took the loss.
 
Jordan Arndt was the only NWU player to finish with two hits as she was 2-4.
 
NWU was scheduled to play York College on Thursday at Uni Place Park, but the Panthers have a conference scheduling conflict so the game was canceled.  NWU will host Iowa Western Community College in an exhibition game at 5 pm.