MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Nebraska Wesleyan softball team kicked off their Spring Break trip in style on Sunday, sweeping their opening day at the Space Coast Games with a pair of dominant victories. The Prairie Wolves (5-1) showcased their offensive firepower and pitching prowess, defeating Wisconsin Lutheran 13-3 in five innings before blanking Emerson 11-0, also in five innings. It was a statement start to their Florida campaign, as the team combined for 24 runs and 24 hits across the two games.
GAME 1: Nebraska Wesleyan 13, Wisconsin Lutheran 3 (5 innings)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Prairie Wolves wasted no time making their presence felt in their Florida opener. In the top of the first inning, Nebraska Wesleyan jumped out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to a clutch single from Jenna Kimberling, who drove in the first run of the game. The momentum only grew from there.
The second inning was an absolute explosion. With the bases loaded and one out, Kimberling stepped up to the plate and delivered a no-doubt grand slam to left field, sending the ball soaring over the fence and igniting the Prairie Wolves' dugout. The hit capped off a five-run inning, giving Nebraska Wesleyan a commanding 7-1 lead.
But the Prairie Wolves weren't done. In the third inning, they tacked on four more runs, highlighted by a two-run triple from Lyndsey Roth and an RBI single from Paige Davison. By the time the dust settled, Nebraska Wesleyan had built an insurmountable 11-1 lead.
Defensively, Elise Warneke was rock-solid in the circle, scattering eight hits over five innings while striking out four. Wisconsin Lutheran managed to scratch across two runs in the bottom of the third, but it was too little, too late as the Prairie Wolves cruised to a 13-3 mercy-rule victory.
KEY PERFORMANCES:
- Jenna Kimberling was the star of the show, going 3-for-4 with a grand slam and five RBIs.
- Lyndsey Roth also had a standout day, finishing 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a triple.
- Val Gerlach showcased her patience at the plate, drawing two walks and scoring once.
GAME 2: Nebraska Wesleyan 11, Emerson 0 (5 innings)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Game 2 was an exclamation point for the NWU. The Prairie Wolves picked up right where they left off, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Val Gerlach got things started with an RBI double, followed by Jenna Kimberling's first double of the day, which brought home another run. Kamdyn Sprunk then delivered a two-run single to cap off the early rally.
The second inning saw Nebraska Wesleyan add two more runs, thanks to a triple from Lyndsey Roth and a passed ball that allowed another run to score. By the third inning, the Prairie Wolves had turned the game into a rout, plating four more runs. Hanna Roth and Kenzie Heedum each drove in runs, while Lyndsey Roth continued her hot streak with another RBI single.
On the mound, Eva Fahrnbruch was lights-out, tossing four scoreless innings and allowing just two hits. Jaedyn Ratzlaff closed out the game with a scoreless fifth inning, sealing the 11-0 victory.
KEY PERFORMANCES:
- Lyndsey Roth stayed red-hot, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a triple.
- Paige Davison added two hits and scored twice, while Kamdyn Sprunk drove in two runs.
- The defense was flawless, committing zero errors and turning a double play to stifle any potential Emerson rallies.
SUNDAY NOTES:
- Nebraska Wesleyan combined for 24 hits across the two games, with five players recording multi-hit performances.
- The pitching staff allowed just three runs and 11 hits over 10 innings of work.
- The Prairie Wolves showed patience at the plate, drawing eight walks and capitalizing on extra-base opportunities.
UP NEXT:
The Prairie Wolves will look to keep the momentum rolling as they continue their Spring Break trip in Florida. Their next set of games are tomorrow against Monmouth College at 9:00 AM CT and against Marietta College at 11:15 AM CT.
