MOUNT PLEASANT – Iowa Wesleyan College scored just two runs and stranded 18 runners on the night in a pair of losses to St. Ambrose University in the Tigers’ home opener at the Mapleleaf Community Complex on Wednesday.
IWC lost the opening game 4-2 and dropped the nightcap 4-0 as the Queen Bees were the more opportunistic team throughout both games. Wesleyan out-hit St. Ambrose 14-11 over the two games but it was the visitors improving to 12-6 this season (2-0 in MCC) while the Tigers dropped to 6-12 overall (4-2 in conference).
The Queen Bees had just four hits in the first game but took advantage of eight walks. SAU scored twice in both the third and fourth innings to take a 4-0 lead, but IWC chipped away with a run in the fourth and another in the sixth. Jerri Fuentez (Sr.-Houston, Texas) doubled in pinch runner Mallory Crane (So.-Des Moines, Iowa) with a run in the fourth, and Haleigh Hempen (Jr.-Hamilton, Ill.) singled in Hilarie Droz (Sr.-Ottumwa, Iowa) in the sixth.
Wesleyan had a chance for more in both innings. Fuentez was stranded despite reaching second with no outs in the fourth, and the Tigers had the bases loaded and one out with a run already in during the sixth inning but could not score any more.
IWC ended up stranding nine runners in the opener and would do so again in the second game. The Tigers put at least one runner on in each of the first six innings but had nothing to show for it. The Bees, on the other hand scored single runs in the second and fourth innings, then added two in the sixth.
Fuentez had two hits in each game to lead the Tiger offense, while Droz added three hits on the night. Ashlee Winner (Sr.-Rushville, Ill.) took the loss in the opener allowing two earned runs and eight walks while striking out seven. Rebecca Wilson (Fr.-Algonquin, Ill.) went the whole way in the second game and allowed three earned runs while striking out four.
Wesleyan will be back on action on Thursday, hosting Knox (Ill.) College for a non-conference doubleheader starting at 4:30 p.m. at the Mapleleaf Complex.
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 SAU 4 IWC 2
Box score Game 2 SAU 4 IWC 0
