ANGOLA, Ind.—The Wartburg softball team (24-16 overall) defeated No. 23 Millikin (30-10) 3-2 Thursday afternoon in the first game of the NCAA Tournament.

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How it happened

• Wartburg was the home team for this contest
• Kaylie Springer scored from second on Sydney Fellow's single to left for the early 1-0 lead.
• In the top of the second, the Big Blue had runners on second and third with two outs. Ashley Nelson struck out the next batter to end the potential scoring threat.
• This remained the score until Millikin hit a solo home run in the fifth to even it at one all.
• In the bottom of the sixth, Sydney Illg scored from third on Ella Link's double to right center for the go-ahead run.  Link was sacrificed over by Hannah Happ, and then scored on Jenna Wiebenga's single up the middle.
• In the top of the seventh, the Big Blue scored on a bases loaded walk with two outs. The next batter hit into a force out at third to seal the win for the Orange and Black.

Press conference


Top performers

• Springer went 3-3
• Link was 1-3 with a run and an RBI
• Illg was 2-3 with one runs
• Illg broke her own season record in assists with 123 to date. Her old mark was 120 set in 2022
• Ashley Nelson pitched her fourth-straight complete game and struck out two

Next event
The Knights will face Trine Friday at 10 a.m. (eastern).