Conference Championship Run Comes Up Just Short

Softball 5/7/2022 4:02:00 PM NWU Sports Information

Conference Championship Run Comes Up Just Short

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Storm Lake, Iowa (May 7, 2022) - The Nebraska Wesleyan softball team advanced to the 2022 American Rivers Conference Softball Championship game. The sixth-seeded Prairie Wolves defeated third-seeded Dubuque, 7-4, in the semifinal round then were narrowly defeated by fourth-seeded Wartburg, 5-4, in the championship game.

In the title game, the Prairie Wolves put the tying run on third base and the go-ahead run on first base with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. Bre Scheneidewind doubled to center field then moved over to third base on a single from Emma Alfieri. But a deep fly ball from Emily Swoboda was caught near the fence and stranded both runners and foiled the comeback attempt.

NWU overcame a two-run deficit midway through the game. The Knights plated two runs in the bottom of the first inning but the Prairie Wolves would not be rattled. Sydney Nickerson lined an RBI single down the right field line to score the team's first run. In the fourth inning, Hanna Roth gave Nebraska Wesleyan the lead. Roth cranked a single to center field, which scored two runs and made it a 3-2 game. Roth provided another run in the top of the sixth inning with another single, this one down the right field line. Roth's RBI made it a 4-2 NWU lead.

But Wartburg found a way to retake the lead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. WC's rally gave them a 5-4 edge before the Prairie Wolf comeback was ended.

Nebraska Wesleyan upset the University of Dubuque in its first game of the game. NWU jumped out to a quick lead after five runs in the first two innings. Bre Scheneidewind hit an RBI single to plate the game's first run in the top of the first inning. An inning later, Taylor Styskal slammed a grand slam to put the Prairie Wolves up, 5-0.

The offense wasn't done there. Paige Davison scored on a groundout for a 6-0 lead. The Spartans were able to score two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning but Nebraska Wesleyan would get an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning. NWU traded an out for a run when Becca Chloupek scored on a groundout. UD made it interesting with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning but Kailey Meyer pitched around the jam to send the Prairie Wolves to the championship game.

With the win against Dubuque, Nebraska Wesleyan made the A-R-C tournament title game in back-to-back seasons. Additionally, it marked NWU's 22nd win of the season, which is the third time in the last five seasons it has reached that total. Since taking over the program in 2016, Mary Yori has won at least 20 games four times and made the postseason four times with two appearances in the conference tournament title game.

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