MOUNT PLEASANT – Iowa Wesleyan College mustered just nine hits in two games and was swept in a non-conference doubleheader by Purdue Univesity North Central (Ind.) by scores of 6-1 and 7-1 Thursday evening at the Mapleleaf Athletic Complex.
The Tigers struggled to get hits against Panther starting pitchers Brittany Bridges and Karissa Inglis, not scoring in either game until the seventh inning and falling to 13-20 this season. IWC also dropped to 0-3 this season against Purdue North Central, which improved to 17-18.
The first game was a pitchers’ duel for most of the way between Bridges and IWC’s Ayla Serrano (Fr.-Rock Island, Ill.), who allowed a run on two hits through five innings. The Panthers came through with three runs in the sixth, though, including a two-run home run from Inglis, and added two more runs in the seventh.
The Tigers were limited to five hits in the opener and did not score until their final at bat. Molly Ward (So.-Baylis, Ill.) hit a pinch-hit single to lead off the inning and later scored on a double by Sarah Weber (Sr.-Danville, Iowa).
IWC struggled from the start in the second game as PNC scored in each of the first five innings. The Panthers piled up 13 hits against three Wesleyan pitchers, with Lindsay Gernenz, Sam Michalski and Sandi Downs all finishing with three hits each.
The Tigers had just four hits in the second game, two coming from Ashley Mysliwiec (Fr.-Antioch, Ill.). IWC scored its only run in the seventh as Weber hit a solo home run to left field to again break up a shutout.
Wesleyan will be in action again on Friday and Saturday when it hosts its annual Betty Sammons Classic at East Lake Park. Tourney play begins at 2 p.m. on Friday, and the Tigers open play on Friday at 3:45 p.m. against Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) University. A total of eight teams will compete in the tourney, which will continue through Saturday.
For more information regarding the IWC softball program or any of the Tiger athletic teams, contact sports information director Adam Glatczak (319-385-6306 phone; 319-385-6384 FAX; aglatczak@iwc.edu e-mail) or log on to IWC's athletics web site at www.iwc.edu/athletics.
Box score Game 1 PNC 6 IWC 1
Box score Game 2 PNC 7 IWC 1
