BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — No. 4-seed Indiana Wesleyan has made an improbable run to the 2017 NAIA Softball World Series. IWU upset No. 1-seed Saint Francis (Ill.) 6-3 in the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round Bowling Green Bracket championship game to become the second No. 4-seed to advance to the World Series. All three Wildcat wins in the Opening Round came against teams ranked No. 11 or better.
GAME VITALS

  • NAIA National Championship Opening Round – Bowling Green Bracket
  • Score:  Indiana Wesleyan def. Saint Francis (Ill.), 6-3
  • Records:  Indiana Wesleyan 44-13 (3-0 OR)   |   Saint Francis (Ill.) 43-7 (2-2 OR)
  • Bowling Green Bracket Seed:  Indiana Wesleyan – No. 4   |   Saint Francis (Ill.) – No. 1
  • NAIA Top- 25 Rank:  Indiana Wesleyan – Receiving votes   |   Saint Francis (Ill.) – No. 9
  • Location:  Michael O. Buchanon Park   |   Hosted by Campbellsville   |   Bowling Green, Kentucky

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

  • Indiana Wesleyan got the scoring started in the top of the 3rd inning with three runs. The first two batters were retired before a walk and four consecutive hits scored three for the early 3-0 lead.
  • Saint Francis rallied in the 4th inning with a two-run double to close the deficit to 3-2. The next USF batter walked to put the go-ahead run at first with no outs. But Kaisey Carson escaped the jam with three outs that did not leave the infield.
  • In the next half inning, Kristen Exposito provided much needed insurance in the form of a 3-run home run as Indiana Wesleyan led 6-2. Exposito has hit six home runs in eight games this postseason.
  • The Saints made a game of it in the 7th inning. USF scored a run to make it a 6-3 score and had two runners on with two out. USF’s best hitter Kayla Garcia stepped to the plate with 11 home runs to her name. But Kaisey Carson earned a game-ending strikeout to send the Wildcats into a massive celebration.

GAME STATS

NEXT TIME OUT

Indiana Wesleyan makes the program’s first appearance in the NAIA Softball World Series. The 10-team double elimination tournament begins May 26 in Clermont, Florida. The World Series bracket will be released later this evening.