STORM LAKE, Iowa— Claiming their fourth Conference Tournament Title, the Wartburg College Knights Softball (27-12, 9-7 A-R-C) squad defeated No. 1-seeded Buena Vista before defeating No. 6-seeded Nebraska Wesleyan to win the American Rivers Conference automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament. This was the Knights first title since the 2008 season.
 
The Knights defeated Buena Vista in the first semifinal game of the day as Ashley Nelson allowed only three hits in a 4-0 win for the Knights.
 
The Knights took an early lead in the championship game and had a big sixth inning, defeated the Prairie Wolves of Nebraska Wesleyan 5-4.
 
The Knights will find out their opponent for the NCAA Tournament on May 9. The selection show is set to start at 1 p.m. Eastern. The regional round takes place Friday-Sunday, May 13-15.
 
Championship Game Recap (Wartburg 5, Nebraska Wesleyan 4)
 
Olivia Brecht (1-of-3) kept the Knights alive in the first inning after picking up two early outs with a single to right center field. Ella Link (1-of-2) hit her 11th home run of the season, bring home Brecht for a 2-0 lead.
 
Nebraska Wesleyan scored the next three runs of the game, taking a 3-2 lead over the Knights as the Knights were held scoreless down the stretch. The Prairie Wolves' Addison Duranski pushed the final run for the Prairie Wolves across on a throwing error by the Knights.
 
Leading off in the sixth, Lauren Frerichs (1-of-1) hit a homer to center field and brought the Knights within one. Hannah Happ (1-of-3) got ahold of a double to left center field for two runs as Sydney Fellows and Riley Feeley capped off the scored for the Knights.
 
Ashley Nelson started in the circle for the Knights, going 2.1 innings and allowed four hits and one run. Carly Saultric (9-2) got the win for the Knights, going 2.2 innings and one run, while Lauren Reicks got her second save of the year recording the final out of the game.
 
Semifinal Game Recap (Wartburg 4, Buena Vista 0)
 
After starting the semifinal game quiet on the offensive front, Brecht (1-of-4) hit a 3 RBI double to left center field.
 
In the pitchers' circle, Nelson (12-4) held the Beavers to two hits in the first inning. Nelson would pitch her fifth complete game this season, allowing three hits and striking out three batters.

Happ (1-of-2) found a triple in right field as Feeley scored the fourth and final run for the Knights.
 
Eyes on the Records
 
With her run against Buena Vista, Illg is tied at No. 2 in the career runs scored at 141 ( Illg moved into No. 4 in the career home runs, sitting at 23 homers, and sits at No. 7 in RBIs with 99.
 
Springer moved up the career record book, joining a tie for fifth in stolen bases (45). Springer sits at No. 2 with 42 stolen bases in a season, only six off Liz Roby-Miklus's 51 stolen bases in 2019.
 
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