INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The No. 17 Indiana Wesleyan softball team used a seventh-inning home run by Ella Phillips to secure the split at No. 7 Marian Friday afternoon. The Wildcats lost the first game 11-3 before bouncing back for the exciting 9-8 win in the nightcap.


 

THE ESSENTIALS

 

• Location: Indianapolis, Ind.
• Records: IWU 18-4, 9-1  I  MU 17-3, 6-2
• Game One Score: MU def. IWU 11-3
• Game Two Score: IWU def. MU 9-8
• NAIA Top-25 Rankings: IWU - #16 I MU - #7

 
 

 

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

• Down 1-0 in the third, IWU took the lead. After a walk to Courtney Thomas, Chloe Tragesser laid down a bunt to push her to second. Morgan Yeater belted a single to left, knocking in Thomas. Sadie Harding rocketed a pitch through the left side of the infield, driving in Yeater, who had previously swiped second base.
• Marian answered with two runs in the bottom of the third for a 3-2 lead. The home team added a run in the fourth and three in the fifth but the Wildcats responded with a run in the sixth when Kamryn Buck scored on an error.  
• MU answered with four runs in the bottom of the sixth with four runs for an 11-3 win.
• Harding and Yeater tallied hits and one RBI each in the loss.
• Alyssa Wagner struck out two in five innings of work. Alayna Thomas also saw time in the circle for IWU.

 

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

• Yeater started things off with a base hit. After moving to third on a steal and base hit from Harding, Brylee Bilger reached on an error, allowing Yeater to score. A. Hackett came in as a pinch runner. She stole second and went to third on an error, allowing Harding to cross home. Abby Harvey's base hit knocked in Hackett for a three-run lead.
• MU scored six runs in the bottom of the third, but the Wildcats battled back in the fourth. Chloe Poe belted a lead-off homer. With Yeater on first and Becca Wyatt on third, Yeater stole second and Wyatt scored on the throw. Harding singled in Yeater, knotting the score at 6-6.
• After Chloe Tragesser singled with one out in the sixth, Fountain came in as a pinch runner and promptly swiped second base. Harding singled in Fountain, giving the Wildcats a 7-6 edge.
• The home team took an 8-7 lead heading into the seventh, but IWU was up for the challenge. Harvey singled with one away. Courtney Thomas came in as a pinch runner and hustled to second base for a steal. After moving to third on a pop fly, Ella Phillips came in as a pinch hitter and crushed an offering over the left field wall for a 9-8 advantage.
• Harding led the way with three hits and two RBI. Harvey, Poe, Tragesser and Yeater all had two hits. Phillips drove in two while Yeater scored twice.
• Emma Etter-Cox got the start and worked 2.1 innings. Makenna Waddell worked the rest of the game and picked up the win. She struck out one and did not allow an earned run.

NEXT TIME OUT

 

 

• The Wildcats return to action on Monday when they play at Goshen College for a doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m.
• Live video and stats will be available at IWUWildcats.com.

FOLLOW THE WILDCATS

 

• Follow Athletics (@IWUWildcats): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
• Follow Softball (@IndWesSoftball): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

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