Tiger softball season comes to an end

FULTON, Mo. - Iowa Wesleyan took part in two nail-biters at the SLIAC softball tournament this weekend. Unfortunately for Tiger fans, they lost both to finish fourth overall.

The Tigers had a comeback bid fall short in their first game, falling 4-2 against Greenville University on Friday. On Saturday, Spalding University knocked IW on a walk-off home run in extra innings, taking the Tigers out 6-4.

IW didn't get off to a hot start in game one. Greenville scored three runs in the first inning, including a two-run homer by Beth Mersinger, and added one in the third to go up 4-0.

The Tigers began to claw back in the bottom fo the fourth. McKenna Woolery singled home Ashley Machholz with two outs to cut the Panther's lead to 4-1.

IW gave it a nice run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Woolery, McKenzie Copher and Emilee Rooney each had a hit, to load the bases with one out, putting the potential winning run at the plate.

Emmy Rodriguez brought home one run on a fielder's choice, also advancing the runners to second and third. Kayla Ford came up with two on and two out, but Greenville's Callie Opp struck out Ford to end the game and send IW to the loser's bracket.

The Tigers had seven hits in the loss. Rooney and Woolery each went 2-3 to co-lead the offense. All seven hits were singles.

Morgan Christner took the loss in the circle. She threw all seven innings and gave up four earned runs on 10 hits and one walk, while striking out 11 batters.

On Saturday, IW found themselves in a familiar spot, once again down 4-0. Spalding plated four runners in the second inning to put the pressure squarely on IW.

Rodriguez provided the spark for IW with a one-out solo homer. Ford followed with a single, and Alex Eyman doubled her home two batters later. Allison Daum came up and loaded the bases with two outs. Eyman scored on a passed ball one batter later, but Woolery flew out to end the threat. Still, the Tigers were right back in it, trailing 4-3.

The Tigers tied the game up in the top of the fifth. Christner walked with one out, and Woolery brought her home with an RBI single. After five innings, it was all square at 4-4.

Christner was able to keep the Spalding at-bay over the last five innings of regulation, but after a quiet top of the eighth inning for the Tiger offense, Spalding struck one final time.

The Golden Eagles put a runner on with one out on a single up the middle. She was sacrificed to second base, and that brought up Avery Morris, who sent a two-run shot to right to end the Tigers' season.

IW had seven hits again in their second loss, all spread out to seven different batters.

Christner threw all 7.2 innings in game two. She gave up six earned runs on 11 hits and no walks, while striking out four batters.

Spalding knocked out Greenville in in the next game to advance to the conference championship game, but Ereka finished off a perfect weekend with an 11-3 win.