WINONA LAKE, Ind. -- Indiana Wesleyan University softball won the opening game of the doubleheader at Grace (Ind.) but lost game two in Winona Lake, Indiana. IWU is now four games behind Crossroads League leader Marian (Ind.) in the loss column as the regular season is shortly coming to a close.

Game Vitals

• Score Game 1:  Indiana Wesleyan - 9   |   Grace - 0   (6 innings)
• Score Game 2:  Indiana Wesleyan - 5   |   Grace - 11
• Records:  Indiana Wesleyan 32-11, 21-7 Crossroads League   |   Grace 23-19, 14-10 Crossroads League
• NAIA Top- 25 Rank:  Indiana Wesleyan - Not ranked   |   Saint Francis - Not ranked
• Location:   Wildcat Field   |   Indiana Wesleyan University   |   Marion, Ind. 

What Went Down (Game 1)

• Neither team scored in the first three innings but Indiana Wesleyan produced a five spot in the 4th inning.
• Kelsey Meyers (SR/Brea, Calif.) hit an RBI single to score Kelsey Kooistra (SO/Grand Rapids, Mich.) for the game’s first run.
• The big hit in the 4th inning was a 3-run home run off the bat of Haley Nixon (SO/Bristol, Ind.).
• Indiana Wesleyan added one run in the 5th inning and three more in the 6th inning to earn the 9-0 mercy rule victory.
• Kaisey Carson (JR/Avon, IN) hit a 2-run home run in the three run 6th inning.
• Haley Nixon did not allow a run on two hits in 5.0 innings of work. She helped herself at the plate by going 2-for-3 with a home run, 3 RBI, and 2 runs scored.
• Kaisey Carson contributed three hits, including a home run and two RBI.
  
   

What Went Down (Game 2)

• Grace quickly grabbed a lead with a single run in the 1st inning and then added a five spot in the 2nd inning for the commanding 6-0 lead.
• Indiana Wesleyan scored their first run in the 3rd inning on a Kelsey Kooistra bunt.
• The Wildcats cut the Lancer lead in half with two runs in the 4th inning. Gabby Bogear (SR/Sacramento, Calif.) had an RBI single and Allison Bexell (SR/Avon, Ind.) followed with an RBI double. The rally started with two outs in the inning.
• Grace got one run back in the 4th inning to lead 7-3.
• Gabby Bogear and Allison Bexell were back at it again in the 6th inning as each hit RBI singles. Abby White (SR/Georgetown, Texas) stepped up to the plate as the tying run but flew out to left field as Grace led 7-5.
• The Lancers answered in the home half of the 6th inning with four runs on five hits. They turned a two run game into an 11-5 advantage.
• Haley Nixon took the loss as she allowed six runs -- four earned -- on six hits in 3.0 innings.
• Kelsey Kooistra, Gabby Bogear, and Allison Bexell all contributed two hits in the losing effort.
  
   

Next Time Out

• Indiana Wesleyan hosts Spring Arbor (Mich.) on Friday at Wildcat Field. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.