Wolves Fall 13-2 in Game One, Fight Back but Fall Short in Game Two, 11-8

February 15, 2025 | Wolves Field, Wesleyan University

Wesleyan's softball team had a tough opening day at home, dropping both games of their doubleheader against Sewanee. Despite a valiant effort in the second game, the Wolves were unable to overcome the strong offensive firepower of Sewanee, resulting in a pair of tough losses. The first game ended with a 13-2 scoreline, while the second was more competitive, with Sewanee holding on for an 11-8 victory.

Game One: A Slow Start and Big Inning Dooms Wesleyan

The day started with a high level of anticipation as the Wolves hosted their first game of the season at Wolves Field. In the opening frame, neither team was able to capitalize, but Sewanee came alive in the second inning, scoring two runs. The Wolves seemed to have trouble settling in as Sewanee added another five runs in the fourth and followed that up with one more in the fifth. Wesleyan could not recover, finishing with just two runs, despite 12 hits.

Standout Players:

• Sewanee's A. Buckner showed why she's a key part of the Tigers' lineup, going 2-for-4 with two runs and one stolen base.
• M. Parker led the offense for Sewanee, going 3-for-5 with 4 RBIs, including a key double.
• For Wesleyan, S. Mcelveen had one of the few bright spots, going 1-for-4 and helping out with the team's only multi-base hit.

The Wolves also struggled with fielding errors, committing three in total, while Sewanee's defense was nearly flawless. Wesleyan's pitching trio of M. Tomlinson, H. Blankensh, and S. Blankensh was unable to hold off the Tigers' aggressive bats, with Sewanee scoring in six of the seven innings.

Game Two: Wolves Show Fight, But Fall Short

The second game of the day saw a much more competitive effort from the Wolves. Early on, it looked like the tide might turn, with Wesleyan putting up two runs in the third inning, thanks to RBIs from S. Wright and M. Tatum. Sewanee answered back in the third and fourth innings, putting up four and four runs respectively, aided by timely doubles from M. Barker and K. Smith.

However, the Wolves were not about to let the game slip away without a fight. Wesleyan responded with five runs in the fourth inning, led by a 2-RBI single from S. Mcelveen and a clutch double by M. Barker.

But Sewanee would not be denied, adding one more run in the fifth and holding off the Wolves in the final innings, thanks in part to strong pitching from A. Buckner, who picked up the win in the circle. The Wolves would load the bases in the final frame but couldn't manage to come up with the big hit, ultimately falling 11-8.

Standout Players:

• A. Buckner played a crucial role both at the plate and on the mound, helping her team with 3 RBIs and earning the win.
• S. Tackett of Wesleyan was a standout, going 2-for-3 with a run and a stolen base, and A. Giffin contributed with a 2-for-3 performance and 2 RBIs.

Wesleyan's R. Huskey came on in relief and struck out four batters, earning a save in the game. Despite the loss, the Wolves were able to show resilience, pushing across multiple runs and making the game a lot more competitive than the first.

Both teams had their share of base-running mistakes, and the game saw five players hit by pitches. Despite their best efforts, the Wolves were unable to capitalize on their scoring opportunities, leaving 11 runners stranded on base in the game.

Final Thoughts:

Despite the tough losses, the Wolves can take away several positives from the day. Their offensive capabilities showed promise, especially in the second game when they fought hard to stay in the game against a tough Sewanee squad. The Wolves will need to tighten up their defense and make the most of their scoring opportunities to find success going forward this season.