TUCSON, Ariz. – No. 20 Indiana Wesleyan Softball took on Park University Gilbert in a doubleheader on the first day of the Tucson Invitational games. The Wildcats dropped the first game in the morning, 3-5. But IWU came back with a vengeance in game 2, dropping 18 runs on the Buccaneers, the most in a game since 2024 (21).
Park started out hot with 3 runs in the first inning in game 1. IWU responded with 2 runs in the bottom of the first when Courtney Thomas batted Whitney Waddell in and Maddie Martin batted in Morgan Yeater. The Buccaneers collected a run in the 5th inning and again in the 7th to lead 5-2. In the bottom of the 7th, the Wildcats fought to comeback, scoring 1 run but that was all they could muster.
Game 2 was an offensive barrage across the board. IWU scored in four of the five innings played and nine Wildcats garnered a hit in the ballgame. Martin hit her first home run of the season in the 1st, Whitney Waddell went 4 for 5 with 7 RBis, 4 of which came by way of an inside-the-park grand slam in the top of the 5th. Leah May was another offensive standout going 3-4. Park’s only 2 runs of the game came in the bottom of the 5th inning. Freshman Avery Toole pitched well, striking out 6 batters in 3 innings of work and collecting her first collegiate win…