MANKATO, Minn. — Nebraska Wesleyan closed the Bethany Kwik Trip Invitational with a decisive Sunday, earning a 6-2 win over Hamline University before shutting out Gustavus Adolphus College 2-0 inside the Mankato Dome. The sweep moved the Prairie Wolves to 2-2 on the season and marked the first career head coaching victory at Nebraska Wesleyan for
Courtney Medina.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Nebraska Wesleyan 6, Hamline 2
In the opener, NWU responded quickly after Hamline (0-2) scored twice in the first inning. The Prairie Wolves answered in the bottom half, as Kenzie Heedum singled, stole second and scored on Jenna Kimberling's RBI double. Eva Fahrnbruch followed with a run-scoring single to even the game at 2-2.
Nebraska Wesleyan seized control in the third. Taylor Korecky singled and stole second before Kimberlin delivered her second RBI double of the game to give NWU the lead. Addyson Maxwell later reached on a fielder's choice as a throwing error allowed another run to score. Katie Hansen added an RBI single, and Maxwell crossed on a wild pitch to cap a four-run inning and a 6-2 advantage.
Kimberling finished 2 for 4 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. Heedum added two hits and a run, while Fahrnbruch collected two hits and an RBI. The Prairie Wolves totaled 10 hits.
In the circle, Lexus Hill worked two innings in the start before Hannah Allen settled the game. Allen tossed five scoreless innings, allowing two hits while striking out five to earn the win and improve to 1-1.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Jenna Kimberling: 2-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, 2 R
Kenzie Heedum: 2-4, 1 R
Eva Fahrnbruch: 2-3, RBI
Lexus Hill: 2.0 IP
Hannah Allen (P: 1-1): 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 5 SO
Nebraska Wesleyan 2, Gustavus Adolphus 0
In the tournament finale against Gustavus Adolphus (1-3), Nebraska Wesleyan leaned on timely hitting and steady pitching.
After a scoreless first four innings, NWU broke through in the fifth. Heedum reached and later scored when Maxwell drove in the game's first run on a fielder's choice. The Prairie Wolves added an insurance run in the seventh when Korecky doubled to center and Kimberling tripled to right, pushing the lead to 2-0.
Korecky paced the offense with two hits and a stolen base. Heedum added two hits, and Kimberling recorded an RBI triple and reached base three times. NWU finished with seven hits and worked four walks.
Fahrnbruch delivered a complete-game shutout, scattering six hits over seven innings with one walk and one strikeout. She faced just one batter over the minimum in the final two frames to secure her first win of the season.
Defensively, Nebraska Wesleyan did not commit an error in the nightcap and turned a double play in the seventh to blunt Gustavus Adolphus' final threat.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Taylor Korecky: 2-3, 1 BB, 1 SB
Kenzie Heedum: 2-4, 1 R
Jenna Kimberling: 1-2, 3B, RBI, 2 BB
Eva Fahrnbruch (P: 1-0): 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 1 SO
UP NEXT
Nebraska Wesleyan returns to action March 8-14 at the Space Coast Games in Cocoa Beach, Florida, where it is scheduled to play 12 games over seven days.
