INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The defending Crossroads League Tournament champions were eliminated from play on the first day of competition at this year’s tournament that is hosted by Marian (Ind.) University in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Indiana Wesleyan University (28-18) was the No. 5-seed in the tournament and lost both their games today in the eight-team double elimination tournament. Indiana Wesleyan lost 3-0 to No. 4-seed University of Saint Francis (16-22) in the opening round and then lost 5-2 to No. 8-seed Spring Arbor (Mich.) University (16-28) in an elimination game.

The potent Wildcat bats were silenced on Wednesday as the team combined for just two runs on 13 hits in the two games. IWU tallied just three extra bases on the day.

Indiana Wesleyan was shutout in the opening game against Saint Francis. Their best chance of the game came in the third inning. After the first two batters were retired Indiana Wesleyan would load the bases with hits by Sam Hemming and Katie Smith and a Spencer Ferrin walk. Marissa French came to bat with the bases loaded and flew out to center field to end the threat.

Saint Francis then scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning. The Saint Francis runs were scored on a fielder’s choice and wild pitch. USF added a third run in the fourth inning to account for all the scoring.

Tanna Hinthorne pitched the entire game and allowed three earned runs on eight hits. She walked three and struck out six in 6.0 innings. Bryttany Van Vliet was the only Wildcat with more than one hit as she was 2-for-3.

In the elimination game with Grace, Indiana Wesleyan scored single runs in the first two innings for the quick 2-0 advantage. In the first inning, Jessica Hull drilled a 2-out double and then scored on a single to right center field by French. Van Vliet was hit by a pitch to leadoff the second inning and she advanced to second base on a sac bunt by Allison Bexell. Gabby Bogear followed with a double to right field to give Indiana Wesleyan a 2-0 lead.

Those would be the only runs for the Wildcats all day. Spring Arbor tied the game in the bottom of the second with two runs and took the lead in the third with one run. Spring Arbor would conclude the scoring with two more runs in the fourth for a 5-2 score.

Gabby McIntire took the loss as she surrendered five runs -- four earned -- on five hits in 4.0 innings. Hull relieved her in the fifth and allowed just one hit in 2.0 innings. French and Bogear each had one hit and one RBI to lead the offense.

Indiana Wesleyan will now focus on the NCCAA National Championship. IWU plays in the eight-team tournament on May 9-11 in Botetourt, Virginia. Bluefield College is the host school.