SPRING ARBOR, Mich. -- It was a wild afternoon in Michigan today as Indiana Wesleyan University took both ends of a doubleheader at Spring Arbor (Mich.) University in the Crossroads League opener for both clubs.

Indiana Wesleyan scored a combined 29 runs in the sweep which includes a huge 17-15 come from behind victory in the opener. IWU completed the sweep with a 12-2 win in six innings.

The story of the day was the unlikely comeback victory in the opener. Spring Arbor opened up a 12-1 advantage following three innings of play and then took a 15-8 lead into the seventh frame. Indiana Wesleyan scored nine runs in the last inning to take the 17-15 win.

Spring Arbor (7-15, 0-2 CL) nearly won the first game by mercy rule in the fifth inning. SAU led 13-3 heading into the fifth but Indiana Wesleyan scored five times in the top half to avoid the mercy rule with a 13-8 score. Spring Arbor added two runs in the home half to push their advantage to 15-8 but Spring Arbor left the bases loaded to end the inning and extend the game.

Indiana Wesleyan (17-6, 2-0 CL) rapped out six hits in the seventh inning but benefitted from three Spring Arbor errors that gave IWU extra outs. Marissa French led the inning off with a single and Brittany Van Vliet reached base on a throwing error. Allison Bexell singled to score French. Gabby Bogear popped out in the infield and pinch hitter Amanda Brunner reached first on the second throwing error of the inning. Because of the two errors, Indiana Wesleyan was able to prolong the inning and score eight more runs.

The Wildcats had trimmed the deficit to 15-12 when the second out of the inning was recorded with two runners on base. The next batter was Jessica Hull who doubled to deep right to score Michelle McGary and Hull was now the tying run on second. French came to bat for the second time in the inning and hit a 3-run bomb to left center field to put the Wildcats in the lead 16-15. The next three Wildcats reached base and Lia Travers was hit by a pitch to force in another run for a 17-15 score before the Cougars finally got the third out of the inning.

Spring Arbor was able to get the leadoff batter on base so IWU head coach Steve Babinski brought Gabby McIntire in to pitch for Hull with the tying run at the plate. McIntire retired the next three batters in order for the save to give Indiana Wesleyan the incredible victory.

French was a perfect 4-for-4 at the dish with a home run, a double, five RBIs, and two runs scored. Bexell finished 4-for-5 with two RBI and three doubles while Hull was 3-for-4 with a walk, two doubles, and four runs scored. Hull also collected the win in relief as she allowed two runs on five hits in 2.1 innings.

Game two was not quite as exciting as the opener but IWU still had to score late to finish with the victory. Spring Arbor scored once in the first and that lead held onto the fourth when the Indiana Wesleyan bats awoke again.

Van Vliet contributed an RBI single in the fourth and the next batter was Lauren Benda who cranked an RBI triple to give Indiana Wesleyan a 2-1 lead.

The Wildcats poured it on in the fifth inning with five runs to build a 7-1 cushion. IWU tallied five hits but again benefited from sloppy play by the Cougars as they committed three errors in the frame. Hull, Van Vliet, Bexell, and Benda all had one RBI in the inning.

Spring Arbor scored one run in the fifth but Indiana Wesleyan scored five more times in the top of the sixth for the 12-2 lead. Hull hit a two-run double, Van Vliet crushed a two-run home run, and Bogear had an RBI single to account for the scoring.

McIntire was the winning pitcher as she allowed two runs on seven hits in the complete game effort. She walked one and struck out five to add a win with her save in the first game.

Hull was 4-for-4 with a double and three RBI while Van Vliet was 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Bexell was 3-for-4 with two doubles and three runs scored while Sam Hemming finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored.

Indiana Wesleyan will finally play at Wildcat Field for the first time tomorrow afternoon as IWU hosts Bethel (Ind.) College at 3 p.m.