LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Wesleyan finally got to play on their home field Tuesday night (March 26) when the Prairie Wolves hosted the College of Saint Mary in a softball doubleheader.  CSM won the first game 9-1, then NWU came back to take game two 5-2 to earn a split on the home opening night.
 
The Flames (5-12) scored three runs in the top of the 1^st inning in game one to take the early lead and they never let the Prairie Wolves get back into the game.
 
NWU made one big run trailing 3-1 in the 5^th inning.  They first got on the board in the 3^rd inning when Morgan Shipley singled to drive in Savanna Lakin.  In the 5^th inning the Prairie Wolves loaded the bases with one out, but a pop up and fly out ended the threat.
 
College of Saint Mary took advantage and turned the tables quickly on the Prairie Wolves.   In the top of the 6^th inning the Flames scored six runs on six hits to get up eight runs and that was enough to end the game after six innings due to the run rule.
 
Kailey Meyer took the loss on the mound for the Prairie Wolves allowing eight earned runs on 14 hits in 5 1/3 innings.  She was able to get her first hit of the year going 2-2 at the plate with a double.  Morgan Shipley also had two hits in game one.
 
Game two was much better for the home team as the Prairie Wolves scored single runs in four straight innings to get the 5-2 victory.
 
Alycin Braun blasted an RBI double to left centerfield in the bottom of the 2^nd inning to score Meyer with the first run of the game.   Meredith Poppe led off the 3^rd with a walk and came around to score on a single by Alicia Perrien in the 3^rd inning.
 
NWU manufactured two runs in the 4^th inning with good base running.  Kayla Prai walked then stole second base.  Shipley singled to put runners on the corners.  Shipley then stole second base and Prai drew a throw at third base that went to the outfield allowing her to score.  Danelle Snyder singled to right field to drive in Shipley making it 4-0.
 
CSM was able to cut the lead in half with two runs in the top of the 5^th inning taking advantage of an NWU error. The Prairie Wolves went back up 5-2 in the bottom of the inning as Meyer singled then pinch runner Lakin scored on a ground out from Braun.
 
Grace Sommer improved to 6-1 by getting the complete game victory on the mound.  Sommer struck out four and allowed two runs on seven hits.
 
Meyer continued to stay hot at the plate going 2-2, while Payton Swanson was 2-4.  Eight of the nine starters in the lineup recorded hits for the Prairie Wolves.
 
NWU is scheduled to open American Rivers Conference play on Saturday afternoon when they host Loras College.