WAVERLY, Iowa - The No. 16-ranked Wartburg Softball team defeated Nebraska Wesleyan University 8-0 Saturday afternoon at Lynes Field to earn the series sweep over the Prairie Wolves.

Wartburg improves its overall record to 16-3 and 7-2 during American Rivers Conference play with the team's second consecutive series sweep.

The Knights scored eight runs off six heights and a pair of NWU errors.

A pitcher's duel through five innings, the home team scored all of its runs in the sixth inning, shutting out Nebraska Wesleyan after a Kaci Sherwood two-run homer induced the eight-run rule victory. Sherwood leads the conference with 10 home runs on the season.

Tarah Wehde earned the win in the pitcher's circle, improving her record to 5-1 on the year. She allowed just one NWU base hit in six innings pitched. 

NWU's starting pitcher Kailey Meyer suffered the loss despite holding the Knights scoreless through the first five innings. She ran into trouble in the sixth as Wartburg's offense threatened, starting with a leadoff base on balls from Sherwood.

Wehde then reached on a fielder's choice and came around to score after Hannah Happ put the ball in play, forcing Wehde into a rundown between third base and home plate. She was awarded the run after an obstruction call on NWU, which eventually stood as the game-winning run.

Wartburg padded its lead off of a two-RBI single from Sydney Fellows, a two-run homer from Ella Link, and an RBI groundout from Olivia Brecht, prior to Sherwood's homer that ended the game.

Up next, Wartburg has a doubleheader on Monday, April 5 at Luther College. Game one is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start time at Betty A. Hoff Field in Decorah, Iowa.