Alysia Wittmaack struck out the first six batters on her way to a complete game victory in a 6-1 win in the first game of GPAC softball doubleheader against Concordia University on Sunday afternoon (Apr. 18) in Lincoln. Lauren Bodfield continued her late inning heroics with the game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh to give NWU a 3-2 win in the second game.
The Prairie Wolves improve to 19-7 overall and 10-2 in the GPAC to move up to first place in the league standings after the sweep of the Bulldogs.
After striking out the first six batters, Wittmaack allowed a run in the top of the third to put the Bulldogs up 1-0. In the bottom of the inning, Dani Bryant singled and stole second base. She then scored on a single by Megan Beckstead. The next batter, Marcia Kennedy, hit a two-run home run to put NWU up 3-1 and they would not trail again.
NWU would add three more runs in the fifth inning as Kennedy walked with the bases loaded to bring one run across, then Bodfield hit a two-run single to score two more.
Wittmaack got the win giving her 32 for her career to move up to second on the NWU career win list. She went seven innings allowing five hits and one earned run with nine strikeouts.
Beckstead was a perfect 3-3 at the plate to lead NWU, while Byrant was 2-4.
The Prairie Wolves struck first in the second game as Bryant singles and stole two bases. She then scored on a ground out by Kennedy.
Concordia answered with one run in the second then took the lead in the fourth as they scored on an error.
NWU would tie the game in the fifth inning as Bryant singled and stole two more bases then scored on a hit by Beckstead.
The game would remain tied headed to the seventh inning. With one out, Sally Wolff doubled for Concordia to put the winning run at second base. Wittmaack then came in to relief starting pitcher Abby Wilmes and got the next two batters.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Beckstead singled then advanced to second on an out by Kennedy. For the second time this week, Bodfield then delivered the game-winning hit with a single to drive in Beckstead.
Bryant was 3-4 in game two with four stolen bases and two runs. Beckstead added two more hits and Melissa Blomstedt was 2-2. Starting pitcher Abby Wilmes went 6 1/3 allowing one earned run on six hits with six strikeouts. Wittmaack got the win after her 2/3 innings of relief pitching to improve to 12-2 on the season.
Nebraska Wesleyan has now won four straight and 10 of their last 11 to move into first in the standings. They play at Dakota Wesleyan on Friday and at Northwestern College on Saturday.
