FAYETTE, Mo. – The No. 16 Indiana Wesleyan softball team's outstanding season came to an end with a 4-1 loss to No. 3 Central Methodist in the championship game of the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round on Thursday afternoon. The Wildcats conclude the year with a 42-15 overall record.


 

THE ESSENTIALS

 

• Location: Fayette, Mo.
• Records: IWU 42-15 I CMU – 52-5
• Game Score: CMU def. IWU 4-1
• NAIA Top-25 Rankings: IWU - #16 – CMU - #3

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

• Neither team could push across a run in the early going. After CMU threatened in the first, the designated visitors put forth a threat in the top of the third. With one down, Zoe Fountain belted a triple to right field. However, two consecutive outs ended the inning.
• The Wildcats fell behind after CMU recorded a four-run fifth frame – with the last three runs coming off a home run.  
• IWU fought back in the top of the sixth. Fountain was once again the catalyst. She singled to shortstop and moved to second on Morgan Yeater's base knock to left field. A double play erased Yeater, but Fountain took third on the play. Brylee Bilger knocked her in with a base hit to center field, cutting the margin to three, 4-1. However, a line drive ended the stanza.  
• The Wildcats got out of a jam in the bottom of the sixth, but IWU was unable to push across any runs in the seventh inning.  
• For the game, Fountain led the way with two hits, including a triple, and scored the team's lone run. Bilger and Yeater garnered hits while Bilger drove in the team's run. Courtney Thomas reached base via a base on balls.
• In the circle, Alyssa Wagner worked five frames. She gave up four runs on five hits. Alayna Thomas closed out the sixth and had a strikeout. 

FOLLOW THE WILDCATS

 

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