The Nebraska Wesleyan softball team split games with Briar Cliff University on Saturday (Mar. 29) to finish a home weekend of Great Plains Athletic Conference action with a 1-3 record. NWU defeated BCU 3-2 in game one, but dropped the second game 2-1. On Friday night, the Prairie Wolves lost to Doane 5-3 in game one, then the Tigers took a wild second game 13-12.

NWU (7-7, 2-4 GPAC) had to rally for the win in game one against Briar Cliff. Klancy Nixon had an RBI double then scored on a error to help NWU plate two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Prairie Wolves added their final run in the sixth when Megan Beckstead got the game-winning RBI with a single.

The Chargers scored two runs in the top of the third in game two, and that was all they would need for the 2-1 win. NWU scored its only run in the first when Erin Starkey hit an RBI double. Prairie Wolves pitcher Alysia Wittmaack went 7.0 innings and allowed seven hits with no earned runs while striking out eight.

On Friday, NWU outhit Doane 9-6 in game one, but the Tigers still managed the 5-3 victory. Ashley Tiedgen, Marcia Kennedy and Mollie Seim each had two hits for NWU.

Game two was about as wild of softball game as you will see. The teams combined for 25 runs on 32 hits. NWU scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 8-7 lead into the seventh inning needing three outs for the win. Doane responded with five runs in the top of the seventh to take a 13-8 lead. NWU mounted a fierce rally and pulled within 13-12 and had runners on first and second base, but they were stranded as Doane held on for the win.

The Prairie Wolves will look to even up their GPAC record on Tuesday (Apr. 1) when they host Concordia University in a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. at University Place Park.