MOUNT VERNON, Ohio -- As the regular season comes to a close this weekend the Indiana Wesleyan University softball team earned a doubleheader split at Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio). MVNU won the opening game 4-2 while IWU rebounded with a 9-8 victory in game two.

After losing the opening game, Indiana Wesleyan quickly fell behind big in game two as Mount Vernon Nazarene posted a five run first inning.

Indiana Wesleyan was able to get back into the game with a three run third inning. The first three Wildcats reached in the frame to load the bases. With one out, Sara Kreitzer (FR/Ashland, OH) recorded an RBI single and Jessica Hull (SR/South Bend, IN) followed with a two-run RBI single for a 5-3 game.

Mount Vernon Nazarene regained a five run advantage with three runs in the fourth inning for an 8-3 score. Indiana Wesleyan responded in the top of the fifth inning with four runs to cut the deficit to one run at 8-7. Marissa French (SR/Crawfordsville, IN) hit an RBI double and Kreitzer drilled a two-run home run. Hull brought IWU to within a run as she scored on a ground out off the bat of Allison Bexell (SO/Avon, IN).

Indiana Wesleyan tied the game at 8-8 in the sixth inning Jenny Sharpe (SO/Dayton, OH) scored on a fielder’s choice. IWU then won the game in the seventh inning on a Bexell single that scored Hull.

Hull also collected the victory as she pitched the final three innings. She did not allow a run on two hits and no walks. She was 3-for4-at the dish with a double, two runs, and two RBI.

Kreitzer was 2-for-3 with three RBI and Gabby Bogear (SO/Sacramento, CA) finished 2-for-4. Each team finished with 12 hits in the game.

Much like game two, Mount Vernon Nazarene captured an early lead with two runs in the first inning and one in the second. MVNU scored another run in the fourth inning to build a 4-0 advantage.

The Wildcats finally got on the board with a run in the fifth inning when Amanda Brunner (SO/Miamisburg, OH) doubled home Gabby Bogear. Kristina Ross (SR/Harrison, OH) singled and scored Hull in the sixth inning to cut the MVNU lead in half at 4-2. But the Wildcats would not score again to fall in the opener.

Hull pitched a complete game and gave up four runs -- just two earned -- in 6.0 innings. She alloed two hits and no walks while striking out three. Three IWU errors led to the two unearned runs.

Indiana Wesleyan completes the regular season at 3 p.m. tomorrow with a doubleheader at Grace (Ind.) in Winona Lake, Indiana.