CEDARVILLE, Ohio -- Indiana Wesleyan University earned an automatic berth into the NCCAA National Championship with a 7-6 victory over host Cedarville (Ohio) University on Saturday morning in the NCCAA Midwest Regional Tournament championship.

Cedarville opened the game with two runs in the top of the first and Indiana Wesleyan cut the lead in half in the bottom half of the inning.

The Wildcats took the lead in the third inning with four runs and never surrendered the advantage as IWU led 5-2 after three. The Yellow Jackets closed to within 5-4 in the next half inning, but the Wildcats quickly upped the lead back to three runs with two runs of their own in the bottom half for a 7-4 margin.

Cedarville scored two more in the top of the fifth inning but that would complete the scoring for the game at 7-6.

Shortstop Katie Berkemeier was stellar at the plate as she went 4-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Centerfielder Tamara Davis finished 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs and one RBI.

Catcher Molly Yothment and third baseman Melissa Kimmel each tallied one hit and two RBI apiece.

Nicole Clark was the winning pitcher in relief of Katie Hall. Clark allowed two runs - one earned - on three hits in 3-2/3 innings of work.

Indiana Wesleyan will compete in the NCCAA National Championship at the representative of the Midwest Region. The national tournament will be held May 13-15 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The Wildcats next play on Thursday, April 29 with their final Mid-Central College Conference doubleheader against No. 3-ranked Bethel (Ind.) College in Mishawaka, Indiana.

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