ROCHESTER, Minn. – The Nebraska Wesleyan softball team started the 2018 season playing four games at the Rochester Dome in Rochester, Minnesota. NWU won two games on Saturday then dropped a pair of contests on Sunday to finish the opening weekend with a 2-2 record.
 
Nebraska Wesleyan swept a doubleheader over Wisconsin-Oshkosh to get the season started winning 10-6 in the first game of the year, then taking game two 6-1.  NWU was originally scheduled to play St. Benedict, but travel issues prevented them from arriving.  On Sunday the Prairie Wolves altered their schedule again falling 3-1 to St. Catherine's to begin the day then they closed the trip with a 8-2 loss to Wisconsin-Oshkosh.  Originally scheduled game versus Carroll was changed because they were unable to get to the game safely.
 
In the season opener, UW-LaCrosse jumped out to a 5-0 lead scoring five runs in the top of the 2^nd inning.  Four of the runs were unearned with two NWU errors in the inning.  The Prairie Wolves responded by scoring five runs of their own in the bottom of the 3^rd inning to tie it up.  Rachel Mundt doubled to start the inning then scored on a RBI single from Morgan Shipley.  Sydney Nickerson had a two-run single, Danelle Snyder drove in a run with a bunt single and Kailey Meyer drove in a run on a fielder's choice to tie the game at 5-5.
 
Each team scored one run in the 4^th inning to keep the game tied at 6-6.  NWU broke the tie by scoring four runs in the bottom of the 6^th.  The Prairie Wolves had three hits and took advantage of two UW-La Crosse errors in the inning.  That lead would hold be good enough as Kailey Meyer struck out the side in the top of the 7^th to seal the victory.
 
Meyer got the win on the mound allowing two earned runs and nine hits in the complete game.  She struck out seven and walked one.  Kayla Prai went 3-4 at the plate with Nickerson and Snyder both going 1-4 with three RBI.  Mundt was 2-3 with a double and stolen base and Shipley was 2-4 with an RBI and stolen base.
 
NWU pounded out 12 hits and took advantage of three UW-La Crosse errors in the 6-1 game two victory to complete the sweep.   The Prairie Wolves led 4-1 after two innings and that was all they would need with Grace Sommer and Meyer allowing only four hits.
 
Snyder and Mundt hit back-to-back doubles in the top of the 1^st inning to put the Prairie Wolves up 2-0.  The Eagles responded with a run in the bottom of the inning, then NWU struck again.  Alycin Braun drove in a run on a fielder's choice and scored on a ground out from Nickerson to make it 4-1.  The Prairie Wolves added two more runs in the top of the 6^th inning.  Mundt hit an RBI single in the inning where NWU scored two unearned runs.
 
Grace Sommer got the win on the mound in her collegiate debut.  She allowed one earned run in four innings with two strikeouts and five walks.  Meyer pitched the final three innings to earn a save.  She did not give up a run and only one hit with two strikeouts.
 
Mundt ended the game 2-4 with a double and two RBI as five Prairie Wolves had two hits.  Shipley, Snyder, Jade Mendoza and Payton Swanson also had two hit games.
 
On Sunday, the Prairie Wolves managed just five hits in a 3-1 loss to St. Catherine's in the first game of the day.  St. Kate's piled up 10 hits and two extra base hits, while the Prairie Wolves had only five singles.
 
The lone run for NWU came in the 6^th inning as Shipley scored on a fielder's choice by Prai.  Meyer took the loss on the mound giving up 10 hits and three earned runs.  She struck out four and walked three.
 
Wisconsin-Oshkosh scored five runs in the 1^st inning and never looked back as the Titans defeated the Prairie Wolves 8-2.  NWU actually outhit UW-Oshkosh 10-9 but the Prairie Wolves committed four errors. 
 
Grace Sommer allowed five runs and four hits in one inning to take the loss on the mound.  Neleigh Brown pitched the final six innings allowing one earned run and five hits.
 
Morgan Shipley was 3-3 at the plate to lead the Prairie Wolves offense.