WAVERLY, Iowa --- No. 23 softball was defeated by Loras College 9-4 in the semifinals of the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) tournament at Lynes Field on Saturday, May 9. The Knights move to 31-10 overall.
Â
The Knights will now await the Division III Championships selection show, where Wartburg will need an at-large bid. The selection show is scheduled for Monday, May 11 at 10 a.m. on NCAA.com. The Knights have made 13 overall appearances to the Division III Championships, including four-straight trips dating back to 2022.Â
Â
Game Summary
- First Inning
- Loras jumped on the Knights early with a four run top of the first inning after four hits and one defensive error put the Duhawks in front 4-0
- Third Inning
- Jenna Wiebenga reached via error and the second inning and Ally Happ was hit by a pitch in the third, but the Knights were unable to move the baserunners in either inning to keep the score 4-0
- Fourth Inning
- The Duhawks put together another four-run inning in the top of the fourth after Loras used three hits to make the score 8-0 headed to the bottom half
- Wartburg's bats came alive in the bottom of the fourth after a Wiebenga double to centerfield led to a two-run home run from Bella Mulder to make the score 8-2
- Stephanie Kiefer doubled to the right centerfield gap in the very next at bat, but the Knights were unable to bring anymore runs across in the fourth
- Fifth Inning
- After taking over inside the circle in the fourth, Klever led off the fifth inning with a solo shot to left center field to cut the deficit to 8-3
- Addy Wells and Wiebenga each singled before Mudler stepped up and reached base on a defensive error that allowed Wells to score to make the score 8-4 headed to the sixth inning
- Sixth Inning
- Both Alexis Larson and Carley Bredar singled in the bottom half of the sixth, but the Duhawks worked around runners in scoring position to keep the score 8-4 headed to the final frame
- Seventh Inning
- Loras added an insurance run in the top of the seventh after a walk led to an RBI double that pushed the Duhawk lead to 9-5
- Wiebenga, Mulder and Kiefer each singled in consecutive at bats to load the bases up for the Knights, but Loras was able to keep the Knights off the scoreboard to secure a 9-4 semifinal win
Â
Top Performers
Â
Notes/Streaks
- Five-game winning steak vs Loras snapped
- First Duhawk win over Wartburg since April of 2024
- First A-R-C Tournament loss to Loras (now 2-1)
- Eighth home run of the season for Mulder
- Third game with three or more hits for Wiebenga this season
- 11 hits is the most in a loss this season for the Knights
- Third career home run and 20th career RBI for Klever
- Happ has reached 25 stolen bases this season