MARION, Ind. -- Rivals Indiana Wesleyan University and Taylor (Ind.) both won one game today in a softball doubleheader contested at Wildcat Field in Marion.

Taylor took game one by a 9-7 margin while Indiana Wesleyan salvaged the split with a 4-1 victory. Indiana Wesleyan is now 33-8 and 16-6 in the Crossroads League while Taylor is 22-12 and 16-6 in league play.

In the second game, Taylor struck first with their only run of the game in the top of the first inning. From that point on Haley Nixon (FR/Bristol, Ind.) did not allow another Taylor score as she pitched a 7.0 inning complete game for the victory. She scattered five hits and one walk to go with six strikeouts for the victory.

The Taylor lead did not last long as Indiana Wesleyan struck in the home half of the first inning with two runs. Alex Springer (FR/Fort Wayne, Ind.) tied the game with an RBI groundout and Sara Kreitzer (SO/Ashland, Ohio) scored on a passed ball for the 2-1 advantage. That score held into the sixth inning when Indiana Wesleyan plated two more runs. Amber Roth (FR/Shipshewana, Ind.) scored on a passed ball while Amanda Brunner (SR/Miamisburg, Ohio) hit into a 6-3 groundout to score Olivia Rasmussen (SO/Des Moines, Iowa). Nixon sent Taylor down in order in the seventh inning for the win.

Emily Hastings (SO/Riverside, Ill.) led Indiana Wesleyan with a 2-for-3 performance. Hastings, Springer, and Kreitzer all had doubles.

In game one, Indiana Wesleyan trailed 5-4 as they came to bat in the sixth inning. Cierra Liddick (FR/Marion, Ind.) led off the inning with a game-tying home run. With two outs in the inning, Kreitzer hit a ground ball to third base but her throw was wild which allowed Kelsey Kooistra (FR/Grand Rapids, Mich.) to score from second base for the go ahead run at 6-5.

Davis Carter did the big damage for Taylor in the top of the seventh inning as she hit a 3-run bomb to put Taylor back on top with an 8-6 lead. TU tacked on a fourth run in the inning for a 9-6 advantage. IWU came to bat in the bottom of the seventh inning and Liddick hit an RBI single with two outs to trim the deficit to 9-7. Kelsey Meyers (JR/Brea, Calif.) singled to put the tying run on base but Sam Hemming (SR/Russiaville, Ind.) grounded out to the pitcher to end the threat and the game.

Kooistra, Liddick, and Brunner all had two hits in the game.

Indiana Wesleyan returns to action at 5 p.m. on Tuesday as they host Goshen (Ind.) at Wildcat Field.