PELLA, Iowa – The Nebraska Wesleyan softball team earned a road split against Central College Tuesday afternoon, falling 6-3 in game one before bouncing back for a 5-3 victory in the nightcap at Kuyper Athletic Complex.
The split moves the Prairie Wolves to 27-10 overall and 9-5 in American Rivers Conference play, keeping them firmly in the conference championship race.
Senior Lyndsey Roth continued her assault on the record books, drilling her 14th double of the season in game one. She now sits just one two-bagger away from tying the school's single-season record. Senior Elise Warnek (20-6) pitched both ends of the doubleheader, taking the tough-luck loss in the opener before earning the complete-game victory in game two.
Game 1: Central 6, Nebraska Wesleyan 3
The Prairie Wolves outhit Central 10-6 but stranded 14 runners in the opener. Nebraska Wesleyan fell behind 2-0 after the first inning before battling back to tie the game in the third. Lyndsey Roth started the rally with her record-chasing double to left field, advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt. After Becca Chloupek pinch-ran for Val Gerlach, Kamdyn Sprunk delivered an RBI single up the middle, followed by Taylor Korecky's RBI single to knot the score at 2-2.
The Prairie Wolves added an unearned run in the sixth when Jenna Kimberling's double to right-center scored Paige Comstock, to take the 3-2 lead. The Dutch put it on in the fourth scoring four runs on four hits to take over the game.
Korecky led the Prairie Wolves with three hits, while Addi Duranski added two hits in the loss.
Game 2: Nebraska Wesleyan 5, Central 3
The Prairie Wolves struck early in the nightcap, scoring twice in the first inning without recording a hit. Hanna Roth was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on Jenna Kimberling's bases-loaded walk. Kamdyn Sprunk followed with an RBI groundout to make it 2-0.
NWU extended the lead to 4-2 in the second when Paige Daviso delivered an RBI single that scored Addi Duranski. Lyndsey Roth followed with an RBI groundout that plated Eva Fahrnbruch.
Nebraska Wesleyan added insurance in the fifth when Jenna Kimberling singled, advanced on Sprunk's sacrifice bunt, and scored on Eva Fahrnbruch's bases-loaded walk.
Warneke, pitching her second complete game of the day, slammed the door in the seventh by retiring Central in order.
The Prairie Wolves' offense was paced by Davison's two hits and RBI, while Kimberling added two hits, an RBI and a score. NWU also demonstrated exceptional plate discipline, drawing 10 walks in game two.
Notables
- Hanna Roth, who already holds the program's career walks record, added to her total with three free passes on the day, including two in game two.
- The doubleheader split keeps Nebraska Wesleyan in the hunt for a piece the A-R-C Regular Season Title. The Prairie Wolves have not won a conference championship since 1986.
Up Next
The Prairie Wolves return home this weekend for their final regular-season homestand, hosting Luther College on Saturday at Sandhills Global Youth Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
