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For Immediate Release
April 30, 2005
FORTUNES REVERSE FOR PACK OF YOUNG PRAIRIE
WOLVES
Despite graduating an accomplished senior class
after its record-breaking 2004 season, the Nebraska Wesleyan softball
team had high expectations and hopes. But that success brought a
reputation, and their reputation did not allow the Prairie Wolves
to sneak up on anyone in 2005.
NWU’s opponents were ready right out of the
gate and sent the Prairie Wolves home from their season-opening
trip to Texas with a record of 0-8. Though three of those losses
were only by a single run, it was a markedly different start compared
to Nebraska Wesleyan’s 8-0 trip to the Lone Star State just
one year before.
The Prairie Wolves broke into the win column in
their first game at home, a 6-5 victory against Dakota Wesleyan
University on March 18, however, the competition stiffened once
again as NWU dropped their next nine games, including three at the
Coe College Tournament on March 26, and dropped to 1-17 overall.
But Nebraska Wesleyan did bounce back and rattled
off six wins in a row. The team defeated Colorado College twice
on the road on April 9, and after being stranded in Colorado Springs
due to a snowstorm, the women kept it going with conference sweeps
over Hastings College on April 14 and Mount Marty College on April
16. Senior Erin Amos was named the Hauff Mid-America Sports/GPAC
Player of the Week for April 11-17 after hitting .526 on the week.
Doubleheader losses to Morningside College, Dordt
College and the University of Sioux Falls soon erased NWU’s
momentum. The losing streak was halted there when Nebraska Wesleyan
picked up a come-from-behind victory at Briar Cliff University on
April 23. Lindsay Bailey blasted a three-run homer in the top of
the seventh. Amos and Vicki Ortmeier also drove in runs to cap the
five-run rally.
NWU went on to split with the Chargers and did the
same at Doane College on April 25 and on senior day with Dana College
on April 27. Midland Lutheran College swept the Prairie Wolves in
their last twin bill of the season, leaving Nebraska Wesleyan’s
final record at 10-28 overall (8-16 GPAC).
Despite the team’s lack of victories on the
field, several postseason awards came NWU’s way at the end
of the year. The Association of Division III Independents (AD3I)
honored Ortmeier by naming her to the All-Independent Second Team
as a utility player. In addition, catcher Mollie Seim was named
to the All-GPAC Second Team, and senior Erin Placke received All-GPAC
Honorable Mention.
The Prairie Wolves also received a pair of academic
awards. Amos was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District
VII College Division Softball Second Team, as selected by CoSIDA,
and sophomore Kaley David was recognized by the National Fastpitch
Coaches Association (NFCA) as a Scholar Athlete for 2005.
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