COLUMBIA, Ky. - Indiana Wesleyan Softball took on the no. 2 seeded and 8th ranked Missouri Baptist Spartans on Monday afternoon in the 2026 NAIA Softball Opening Round. MBU took the first lead in the 2nd inning, but IWU responded with 3 runs in the 3rd inning courtesy of
Morgan Yeater,
Maddie Martin, and
Leah May RBIs. The Wildcats pushed their lead with another run in the following inning, again from a
Morgan Yeater RBI single. The Spartans fought back and kept it close by hitting a 2 run home run in the 5th. As the game got to the 7th inning, IWU was winning 4-3 and had Missouri Baptist down to their last out. However, MBU would score to tie the game and extended the game into additional innings. After a scoreless 8th frame,
Sara Ruble started the 9th with a bunt for a hit and
Danica Fuller walked in the next at-bat.
Courtney Thomas advanced both runners with a well-placed bunt and
Morgan Yeater came through in the clutch with a sacrifice fly that gave Ruble the chance to score.
Maddie Martin followed with a single that drove in Fuller and gave Indiana Wesleyan the 6-4 advantage.
Avery Toole finished off her complete game by shutting down the Spartans and IWU moved on to the next round.
THE ESSENTIALS
- Location: Columbia, Kentucky / Marilyn D. Sparks Park
- Records: IWU 38-13 (30-6) | MBU 40-13 (23-5)
- Game Score: IWU def. MBU 6-4 (9 innings)
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- The Spartans took a one run lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning to open the scoring.
- IWU took their own lead in the next half-inning after Morgan Yeater singled to bring home Sara Ruble and then Maddie Martin brought in Courtney Thomas from third base. Leah May extended the lead to 3-1 with a bases loaded single that scored Maddie Seitz.
- In the 4th, the Wildcats put up another run when Yeater got another RBI on a single up the middle.
- Now down 4-1, Missouri Baptist cut into the lead with two runs on a home run in the bottom of the 5th inning.
- With two strikes and two outs in the 7th, the Spartans tied the game with another home run and forced extra innings.
- Senior Morgan Yeater came through once again with a SAC fly into left field that allowed Sara Ruble to advance home from third and dodged the tag with a well timed slide. Maddie Martin sliced a ball into left center field to score another run to put IWU up 6-4.
- Avery Toole went the distance, tossing all 9 innings and shutting the door on the No. 8 ranked MBU.
YEATER PERSPECTIVE
- "Today was a fun, electric day of softball," said outfielder Morgan Yeater. "We came out from the beginning with the goal in mind achieved that through grit and resilience. We had so much fun on the field, in the dugout, and at the plate that we couldn't help but have gratitude in every moment. It was an entire team win and I'm so ready to get back at it tomorrow."
KEY WILDCATS
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Tuesday, March 12, 2026
- Game 4: Tennessee Southern vs Missouri Baptist - 12:00 p.m. CT / 1:00 p.m. ET
- Game 5: Indiana Wesleyan vs Lindsey Wilson - 2:30 p.m. CT / 3:30 p.m. ET
- Game 6: Game 4 Winner vs. Johnson (TN) - 5:00 p.m. CT / 6:00 p.m. ET
Wednesday, March 13, 2026
- Game 7 - Game 5 Loser vs. Game 6 Winner - 12:00 p.m. CT / 1:00 p.m. ET
- Game 8 - Game 5 Winner vs. Game 7 Winner - 2:30 p.m. CT / 3:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, March 14, 2026
- Game 9 - Game 8 Winner vs. Game 8 Loser (If Necessary) // 12:00 p.m. CT / 1:00 p.m. ET
NEXT TIME OUT
- IWU will face No. 10 Lindsey Wilson in their next game of the NAIA Opening Round tomorrow, May 12th at 2:30 PM CT/ 3:30 PM ET.
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