MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- Indiana Wesleyan University and Bethel (Ind.) College battled Thursday afternoon for second place in the Mid-Central College Conference softball standings.

Bethel won both games needed to clinch the second spot in the conference with wins of 4-3 and 2-0.

The Wildcats entered the final two games of the season one game ahead of No. 14-ranked Pilots, needing to win just one of the two games to earn second place. But the Pilots won both games they needed to vault over the Wildcats.

Game one ended in heartbreaking fashion for the Wildcats. IWU took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh before the Pilots plated three runs on two hits and one error. The three run seventh in game one for the Pilots carried over into game two as BC knocked in a pair of runs in the first inning for a 2-0 lead.

The two runs were all Bethel would need as Indiana Wesleyan was held scoreless.

Katie Hall was the losing pitcher in game one despite allowing four runs - two earned - in 6-2/3 innings of work. She gave up five hits and struck out three. Shortstop Katie Berkemeier cranked out two hits and scored a run in the opening game while catcher Molly Yothment clubbed a double.

Abbie Forman was the pitcher of record for the Wildcats in game two. She gave up two runs on eight hits in the complete game. She walked two and struck out four. Third baseman Melissa Kimmel was 1-for-3 in the contest with a double.

Bethel finishes MCC play with a 12-4 record while Indiana Wesleyan ends league play in third place, one game behind at 11-5. Overall Bethel is 40-6 while Indiana Wesleyan is 29-15.

Indiana Wesleyan will return to Mishawaka in just a few days time for the MCC Tournament. The three day tournament will begin on Tuesday, May 4 with the winner of the tournament securing the conference's automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship.

Box scores: Game 1  |  Game 2