PENSACOLA, Fla. — A four-run grand slam in the eighth inning proved to be the knockout blow as Nebraska Wesleyan dropped its Spring Break opener to No. 10 Wisconsin-Whitewater, 11-6, Tuesday morning at Blue Wahoos Stadium in the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Challenge.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Senior third baseman Easton Johnson (Gilbert, Iowa) was the offensive anchor for the Prairie Wolves, going 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in the third inning and a sacrifice fly in the seventh to finish with four RBIs. Johnson's blast over the left-field fence gave Nebraska Wesleyan a 3-1 lead, its only advantage of the game against the defending national champions.
The Prairie Wolves stayed within striking distance of the 2-3 Warhawks into the seventh, when they rallied to knot the score at six. Freshman second baseman Jaxon Volkmer (Lincoln, Nebraska) plated Sam Schaefer with an RBI single through the right side, and a throwing error allowed Brayden Harvey to score before Johnson's sacrifice fly completed the three-run frame.
Sophomore right-hander Dominic Bentley (Omaha, Nebraska) ran into command trouble in the eighth, walking three before giving up a grand slam that blew the game open and made it 11-6, a deficit the Prairie Wolves could not recover from.
Senior right-hander Trevor Storer (Lincoln, Nebraska) started and logged four innings with four earned runs allowed and two strikeouts. Freshman left-hander Caleb DeWitt (Lincoln, Nebraska) entered with the game tied in the seventh and was charged with the loss after allowing the go-ahead run. Junior right-hander Drake Venema (Omaha, Nebraska) made his 2026 season debut, recording the final out.
Volkmer, Johnson and junior designated hitter Eli Eldred (Gilbert, Iowa) each tallied two hits to pace the offense. Nebraska Wesleyan drops to 2-4 on the season.
UP NEXT
The Prairie Wolves return to action Wednesday against Sewanee at 4 p.m. at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
