FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- The Indiana Wesleyan University softball team opened up an early lead in a game one victory at Saint Francis (Ind.) today as the two teams split a doubleheader.

Indiana Wesleyan scored nine runs on 14 hits in the opener en route to a 9-1 victory that lasted just five innings due to run rule. Saint Francis managed the split with a 7-6 game two win.

In the opening game, IWU scored in each of the first three innings to lead 7-1. Indiana Wesleyan then scored two runs in the fifth inning and prevented Saint Francis from scoring in the home half of the frame for the five inning mercy rule.

The three through eight spots in the Indiana Wesleyan batting order all had multi hits in the win. Jessica Hull (SR/South Bend, IN) was 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored, and three RBI while Allison Bexell (SO/Avon, IN) was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs. Marissa French (SR/Crawfordsville, IN) and Sara Kreitzer (FR/Ashland, OH) each contributed two hits and a double. IWU outhit USF 14-6 in the game.

Hull was the winning pitcher as she allowed one run on five hits in 2.2 innings. Gabby McIntire (SR/Logansport, IN) pitched a scoreless 2.1 innings in relief while giving up just one hit.

In the second game, the Cougars plated two runs in each of the first two innings and held a 4-1 lead. USF pushed the advantage to 5-1 after four innings before the Wildcats made one last push. IWU scored one in the fifth and two in the sixth to trim the deficit to 5-4. The Cougars got one run back in the bottom of the sixth inning but the Wildcats tied it with a two run seventh inning. USF withstood the comeback and score the walk-off win in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Janessa Guevara (SO/Lathrop, CA) pitched a complete game for the Wildcats and allowed seven runs on 10 hits and six walks. She struck out six Cougars.

The bottom two spots in the lineup produced four of the nine Wildcat hits. Bexell and Meredith Scholle (SO/Ada, MI) were each 2-for-3 as Bexell had a double, one RBI, and one run scored. Brunner and Kreitzer each knocked home two runs while Hull crushed a triple.

Indiana Wesleyan will next play at 2 p.m. on Tuesday as the Wildcats host Spring Arbor (Mich.) at Wildcat Field. The doubleheader is Senior Day and the final home games of the season.