COLUMBUS, Ga. - No. 23 Indiana Wesleyan Softball took on the Southern Oregon University Raiders in the 2026 NAIA Softball World Series on Monday evening, putting in a gutsy performance to win 3-1 over the 2025 champions. IWU continues their best run in program history with their third win of the 2026 tournament. The Wildcats will take on the winner of Mobile and Our Lady of the Lake tomorrow at 2:00 PM.
IWU struck first with a
Morgan Yeater SAC fly in the top of the 3rd inning followed by a
Maddie Martin double to go up 2-0. Southern Oregon scored one run in the bottom of the 4th, but it ended up being the lone run on the scoreboard for SOU.
Avery Toole stayed strong in the circle, getting 6 outs on 6 batters across the 5th and 6th innings. The Wildcats added an insurance run in the top of the 7th as
Sara Ruble lined a single into center field that drove in
Emma Wiberg from second base. Toole closed the door in the bottom of the 7th and Indiana Wesleyan stayed alive with a 3-1 win.
Avery Toole finished the game with 7 strikeouts and 0 earned runs for the second straight game as she continues her impressive freshman season.
THE ESSENTIALS
- Location: Columbus, Georgia / South Commons Complex
- Records: IWU 43-14 (30-6) | SOU 45-15 (16-8)
- Game Score: IWU def. SOU 3-1
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- Freshman Avery Toole started the game with 3 scoreless innings of work on the mound.
- Sara Ruble started the 3rd inning with a walk and Danica Fuller hit a well placed bunt to get on base and move Ruble to second. Courtney Thomas moved both runners with a SAC bunt in the next at-bat, setting up Morgan Yeater with two runners in scoring position with only 1 out. Yeater came through with a SAC fly to center field that scored Ruble from third. Maddie Martin doubled right after to score Fuller from second base and gave IWU the 2-0 lead after 3 innings.
- The Raiders loaded the bases and scored one run in the bottom of the 4th to cut the lead in half. But Avery Toole wasn't done dealing as she then recorded seven consecutive outs after the run had scored.
- For insurance, Sara Ruble shot a single into center field to score Emma Wiberg from second base in the top of the 7th to extend the lead to 3-1.
- The Wildcats shut down the SOU comeback in the final half inning, eliminating the reigning World Series champs from the field.
KEY WILDCATS
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 21, 2026
- Game 1: No. 8 Indiana Wesleyan def. No. 9 Marian, 4-3 (8 Innings)
- Game 2: No. 4 Mobile def. No. 5 Our Lady of the Lake, 9-1
- Game 3: No. 3 Southern Oregon def. No. 6 Cumberlands (Ky.), 4-2
- Game 4: No. 7 College of Idaho def. No. 10 British Columbia, 4-3
Friday, May 22, 2026
- Game 5: No. 5 Our Lady of the Lake def. No. 9 Marian, 10-2
Saturday, May 23, 2026
- Game 6: No. 10 British Columbia def. No. 6 Cumberlands (Ky.), 2-1
- Game 7: No. 1 Madonna def. No. 8 Indiana Wesleyan, 6-3
- Game 8: No. 2 Southeastern def. No. 7 College of Idaho, 3-1
Sunday, May 24, 2026
- Game 9: No. 8 Indiana Wesleyan def. No. 10 British Columbia, 1-0
Monday, May 25, 2026
- Game 10: No. 5 Our Lady of the Lake def. No. 7 College of Idaho, 6-0
- Game 11: No. 2 Southeastern def. No. 3 Southern Oregon, 5-2
- Game 12: No. 1 Madonna def. No. 4 Mobile, 5-2
- Game 13: No. 8 Indiana Wesleyan def. No. 3 Southern Oregon, 3-1
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
- Game 14: No. 4 Mobile vs. No. 5 Our Lady of the Lake - 10:00 AM
- Game 15: No. 1 Madonna vs. No. 2 Southeastern - 12:00 PM
- Game 16: Game 14 Winner vs. No. 8 Indiana Wesleyan - 2:00 PM
- Game 17: Game 15 Loser vs. Game 16 Winner - TBD
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
- Game 18: Game 15 Winner vs. Game 17 Winner - 5:00 PM
- Game 19: Game 18 Winner vs. Game 18 Loser - IF Necessary
NEXT TIME OUT
- IWU will play the winner of Mobile and Our Lady of the Lake on Tuesday, the 26th at 2:00 PM.
FOLLOW THE WILDCATS
#
