With the tying run on third base and winning run on first base, Brenna Maguire came in to pitch and retired the next three batters as Nebraska Wesleyan held off Doane College, 5-4, in game two of a GPAC softball doublheader on Senior Night and Strike Out Cancer Night (Apr. 25) at University Place Park in Lincoln. Doane won the first game, 2-1, for the doubleheader split.
The second game was tied 4-4 in the sixth inning as Anna Brownell led off the bottom of the sixth for NWU. Ashalla Dyer walked and Kiersten Streff laid down a sacrifice bunt, however the throw to third was dropped as the bases were loaded with no outs. A force out at home brought up Kayla Randel with one out. Randel hit a slow roller to the pitcher who mishandled the ball and allowed pinch runner Lisa Kopf to score the eventual game-winner.
Doane actually led 2-0 after the first inning. NWU got their first run in the fourth inning as Lauren Bodfield doubled and scored on a single by Megan Tieken.
The Prairie Wolves (12-18, 6-8 GPAC) had a big fifth inning plating three runs. Dani Bryant had an RBI double, Becky Bomberger hit an RBI single and Bodfield had a sacrifice fly.
Starting pitcher Megan Cottier got in trouble for the Prairie Wolves late. Cottier walked or hit seven of nine batters from the sixth to seventh inning forcing Maguire to come in a register the save.
Seven different players had a hit for NWU with Anna Brownell going 2-3 in game two.
Game one was a low scoring affair, with a costly wild pitch costing the Prairie Wolves. NWU was held scoreless the first five innings of the game as Doane held a 1-0 lead.
The Prairie Wolves finally got on the board in the sixth as Bomberger singled and Bodfield doubled to drive her in. She was stranded at second as Doane recorded three straight outs.
In the top of the seventh, back-to-back walks and a bunt single got the bases loaded with no outs. Maguire then got a fielders choice to retire the runner at home before striking out the next batter.
A wild pitch would allow Shelby Mendlik to score the game-winner.
Tieken went 2-3 to lead the NWU offense. Maguire took the loss allowing two earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts.
