LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska Wesleyan's Eva Fahrnbruch was as sharp as she's been all season Wednesday afternoon, and the Prairie Wolves' offense came to life with a five-run third inning in the nightcap to help NWU sweep Buena Vista 4-0 and 6-2 in an Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader at Championship Stadium at Sandhills Global Youth Complex.
With the sweep, Nebraska Wesleyan improved to 13-16 overall and 4-4 in conference play. The Beavers fell to 6-22 and 0-4 in the A-R-C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Nebraska Wesleyan 4, Buena Vista 0
Fahrnbruch was untouchable in the opener, tossing a complete-game shutout and allowing just five hits while striking out two. She walked no batters and needed only 97 pitches, 65 of which went for strikes, to navigate seven innings. It was her third shutout of the season and moved her record to 9-7.
The Prairie Wolves struck first in the bottom of the first. With two outs and runners on second and third, Fahrnbruch helped her own cause, singling to center field to plate both runners and give NWU a 2-0 lead.
Nebraska Wesleyan doubled its advantage in the fourth on a pair of extra-base threats and situational hitting. Ella Wolff led off with a triple to left center, then scored on a Catie Ingalls error. Jenna Kimberling followed with a sacrifice fly to right, pushing Kenzie Heedum across to make it 4-0.
Wolff was a catalyst throughout the game at the bottom of the order, going 2-for-3 with a triple and a run scored out of the No. 8 spot. Fahrnbruch went 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBI while also stealing a base.
Buena Vista's Kali Irlmeier (1-5) took the loss, allowing four runs, two earned, on nine hits over six innings.
Game 2: Nebraska Wesleyan 6, Buena Vista 2
The nightcap belonged to Macy Santoni and a relentless NWU offense that erupted for five runs in the third inning to erase an early deficit and run away from the Beavers.
Buena Vista jumped ahead first on an RBI groundout by Karlee Noe that scored Maddy Raveling, who had doubled and stolen third, to make it 1-0 after one. The Beavers added another in the third on an RBI single by Jordan Fabirkiewicz to push the lead to 2-0, setting up the Prairie Wolves' pivotal response.
Nebraska Wesleyan erupted for five runs in the bottom of the third. Addyson Maxell, who finished the game 3-for-3, reached to spark the inning. Pinch runner Katie Hansen and Kimberling both scored on a fielder's choice play when Buena Vista's third baseman Jillian Garcia committed a throwing error to second base. Eva Fahrnbruch followed with a single, and then Santoni turned on a pitch to right center for an RBI triple that gave NWU a 3-2 lead. Paige Comstock and Hayden Thomas both capped the rally with an RBI single each to make it 5-2 and chase starter Paige Mahler.
Santoni added an RBI in the sixth when pinch hitter Taylor Korecky tripled to left and scored on a Santoni groundball that forced a Buena Vista error at second base, pushing the advantage to 6-2.
Santoni finished 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI. Comstock went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while pinch hitter Hayden Thomas came off the bench to go 2-for-2 with an RBI in limited action.
Jaedyn Ratzlaff started and held BVU to two runs over three innings. Fahrnbruch, who took over in the fourth, was perfect the rest of the way, allowing no hits and no runs over four innings while striking out one.
Buena Vista starter Paige Mahler (3-6) took the loss, surrendering five runs in 2.2 innings.
UP NEXT
Nebraska Wesleyan resumes their American Rivers Conference play Saturday afternoon, the University of Dubuque in a doubleheader and it will be senior day! The first game is set for 1 p.m. at Sandhills Global Youth Complex in Lincoln Neb.
