BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- No. 4-seed Indiana Wesleyan has made an improbable run to the 2017 NAIA Softball World Series. IWU upset No. 1-seed Saint Francis (Ill.) 6-3 in the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round Bowling Green Bracket championship game to become the second No. 4-seed to advance to the World Series. All three Wildcat wins in the Opening Round came against teams ranked No. 11 or better.

GAME VITALS

• NAIA National Championship Opening Round - Bowling Green Bracket
• Score:  Indiana Wesleyan def. Saint Francis (Ill.), 6-3
• Records:  Indiana Wesleyan 44-13 (3-0 OR)   |   Saint Francis (Ill.) 43-7 (2-2 OR)
• Bowling Green Bracket Seed:  Indiana Wesleyan - No. 4   |   Saint Francis (Ill.) - No. 1
• NAIA Top- 25 Rank:  Indiana Wesleyan - Receiving votes   |   Saint Francis (Ill.) - No. 9
• Location:  Michael O. Buchanon Park   |   Hosted by Campbellsville   |   Bowling Green, Kentucky 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Indiana Wesleyan got the scoring started in the top of the 3rd inning with three runs. The first two batters were retired before a walk and four consecutive hits scored three for the early 3-0 lead.
• Saint Francis rallied in the 4th inning with a two-run double to close the deficit to 3-2. The next USF batter walked to put the go-ahead run at first with no outs. But Kaisey Carson escaped the jam with three outs that did not leave the infield.
• In the next half inning, Kristen Exposito provided much needed insurance in the form of a 3-run home run as Indiana Wesleyan led 6-2. Exposito has hit six home runs in eight games this postseason.
• The Saints made a game of it in the 7th inning. USF scored a run to make it a 6-3 score and had two runners on with two out. USF’s best hitter Kayla Garcia stepped to the plate with 11 home runs to her name. But Kaisey Carson earned a game-ending strikeout to send the Wildcats into a massive celebration.
   

GAME STATS

• Kaisey Carson:  W (24-8), 7.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K;  1-for-4, 2B, RBI, R
• Lauren Buckley:  3-for-4, 2 RBI, R
• Alex Springer:  2-for-3
• Kristen Exposito:  1-for-3, BB, HR, 3 RBI
• Kira Madl:  2-for-3, R
   

COACH BABINSKI SAYS...

• "I love this team. Their flavor is so special and combine it with grit and tenacity with a desire to play for God by serving each other and you have a team going to the World Series!"
   

NEXT TIME OUT

• Indiana Wesleyan makes the program’s first appearance in the NAIA Softball World Series. The 10-team double elimination tournament begins May 26 in Clermont, Florida. The World Series bracket will be released later this evening.