IMPERIAL, Mo – Nebraska Wesleyan hit three home runs scoring six runs in the first three innings and went on to earn a 6-5 victory over Fontbonne University in game one of a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 23) in Imperial, Mo.  Fontbonne came back to win the second game 7-6 to split the series.  Game one was predetermined as a 7-inning contest, while game two was a regular 9-inning game.
 
Derek Kolbush blasted a 2-run home run in the top of the 1^st inning to get the Prairie Wolves off to a great start.  The Griffons responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning to regain the inning.
 
In the 2^nd inning, Kaleb Knox hit a 2-run homer to drive in Kolbush giving NWU a 4-3 advantage. The next inning, it was Mason Bennett's turn to get in the home run party with a 2-run shot.  NWU held a 6-4 lead after three innings.
 
Fontbonne scored another run in the bottom of the 5^th inning, but that was as close as they could get.
 
Riley Ward got the win on the mound pitching four innings allowing three earned runs with two strikeouts and two walks.  Brady Harrison pitched one scoreless inning, then Josh Seifert came in to pitch the final two innings to record his second save of the season.
 
Knox and Bennett both went 2-4 at the plate to lead the Prairie Wolves offense.
 
In game two, Fontbonne led 6-1 heading to the 9^th inning but the Prairie Wolves scored five runs in the top of the 9^th to rally back and tied the game at 6-6.
 
The Griffons got the first three batters to reach in the 9^th inning and won the game on an NWU error.
 
All five runs in the NWU 9^th inning rally occurred with two outs.  A hit batter and walk put two batters on, then Noah Unger drove one in with a single.  An infield error loaded the bases for John Haimowitz who got a 2-run double to left field.  An error in the outfield allowed the tying run to score as four of the Prairie Wolves runs were unearned.
 
The only other NWU run of the game came in the 7^th inning when Aaron Nichols walked and scored on a sacrifice fly by Will Schneidewind.  In that inning, the Prairie Wolves loaded the bases with no outs but only managed one run.
 
Tristen Toelle started on the mound for NWU going three innings allowing four hits and one unearned run.  Five other NWU pitchers appeared on the mound with Brennan Halligan taking the loss allowing the run in the 9^th.
 
Noah Unger had three hits to lead the NWU offense.