LINCOLN, Neb. – Playing their final home games of the regular season, the Nebraska Wesleyan softball team knocked off their second nationally-ranked opponent of the year taking down #16 Luther College 8-5 in game two of an American Rivers Conference softball doubleheader.  The Norse won the opening game 7-4 on Saturday afternoon (April 20) at Seng Park.
 
NWU (22-10, 7-5) now finds itself in a tie for 4th place in the A-R-C standings with four games remaining.  The Prairie Wolves handed the Norse only their second league loss of the year and fifth overall as they drop to 28-5 and 10-2 in A-R-C to stay on top of the standings.
 
Luther jumped ahead 3-0 in game one but the Prairie Wolves came storming back in the 3^rd inning.  Kayla Prai doubled then back-to-back walks loaded the bases.  Kailey Meyer came to the plate and blasted a grand slam over the left field wall to put NWU ahead 4-3. 
 
That lead didn't last long as Luther answered with four runs in the top of the 4^th inning.  They scored the four runs on only three hits.  Neither team was able to score the rest of the game making the final score 7-4.
 
Meyer was the starting pitcher going 2.0 innings allowing three runs on six innings.  Neligh Brown pitched 1.1 innings and was the losing pitcher giving up three runs on only one hit.  Grace Sommer threw the final 3 2/3 innings giving up only one run.
 
NWU had only five hits in the game, by five different players.  Meyer drove in all four runs with her grand slam, the second grand slam of the year for the Prairie Wolves.
 
In game two, the Prairie Wolves scored four runs in back to back innings then held off a 7^th inning rally to secure the upset victory.
 
Luther scored one unearned run in the top of the 3^rd inning but that was all they could get.
 
The Prairie Wolves used two straight errors to score their first run and tied the game.  A bunt single put two on for Morgan Shipley who hit an RBI double against the Norse shift.  Alicia Perrien then followed that up with a two-run double down the left field line making it 4-1.
 
Just like the 3^rd inning, the Prairie Wolves started the 4^th inning with their first five batters reaching safely.  A single, error and walk loaded the bases for Shipley.  She singled to the gap in left center and the ball went through the outfielder's legs to bring in two runs.  Perrien singled to left again bringing in one more run.  Danelle Snyder hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Shipley with the fourth run of the inning.
 
Leading 8-2 headed to the 7^th inning, the Prairie Wolves had to withstand a big Luther rally.  After retiring the first batter, five straight Norse singled allowing three runs to score and bringing the tying run to the plate.  Meyer was able to get two straight ground outs to end the threat.
 
Kailey Meyer got the win pitching the final four innings allowing three runs on six hits. 
 
Alicia Perrien led the Prairie Wolves offense going 3-4 with a double and three RBI.  Shipley was 2-4 with two runs scored and two RBI.  Kayla Prai also had two hits going 2-2 with two runs scored.
 
The Prairie Wolves travel to Waverly, Iowa to face Wartburg College on Wednesday.