Misenheimer, NC -- On Saturday #5 W seed Wesleyan College coming out of the winner's bracket faced #1 E seed Pfeiffer University coming out of the loser's bracket in an elimination game for the Pfeiffer Falcons at 1 pm. The #25 nationally ranked Falcons sporting a record of 34-9 coming into the game knew it was a must win game. After a scoreless 1st inning the Falcons scored in the next 6 straight innings with 2 doubles, a triple, and 2 home runs for 10 total hits plating 7 runs for the game. The Wesleyan Wolves battled the whole game plating 3 runs highlighted by a Tihana Zupanic solo home run over the left field fence. Zupanic, Bailey Caldwell, and Jasmine Staley each had 2 hits and Marilynn Nesmith, Jendayi Wright, and Savannah Pollock each had one as the Wolves had 9 total hits and pressed the Falcons but fell 7-3 in the game. 

 

The win by the Pfeiffer Falcons set up the final game of the bracket as a winner take all ticket to the USA South Tournament Conference Championship series with Piedmont College who had already won their bracket earlier in the day. 

 

Both teams stood with identical bracket records at 3-1 and now had split two games against each other over the past three days including Wesleyan's first ever win against the Falcons on Thursday.  

 

The Wolves had started their USA South Tournament on Monday at Maryville College in a play-in game and had rode the pitching of Kimmy Dick the last four games turned to 10 game winner Tihana Zupanic as the starter for the final game. 

 

The game started after 4 pm due to the long drawn out first game of the day and would be quite different from the opening game of the day. 

 

Zupanic allowed a 1st inning run after the lead off batter walked, got to second on a passed ball and then scored on a Pfeiffer double giving the Falcons a 1-0 lead. Zupanic never allowed another run the rest of the way in the pitchers duel between her and Pfeiffer's Ashlynn Kennedy who was the winning pitcher in the first game of the day.

 

Wesleyan broke through in the top of the 4th inning with 2 outs Zupanic helped her own cause by getting on base on an error, Janae Rookard then singled and Zupanic moved to third bringing up Sabrina Bowen who promptly tripled to right center scoring both Zupanic and Rookard and giving the Wolves their first lead of the game at 2-1. The Wolves managed 4 hits in the game and none was bigger than the 2 rbi triple by Bowen who was playing shortstop.

 

Pfeiffer managed only 5 hits in the game as Zupanic took charge on the mound. 

But in the bottom of the 7th inning the Falcons were not done. With one out they had back to back singles and immediately subbed in faster pinch runners. With speed on the bases Pfeiffer's Tyner hit a hard ground ball right back at Zupanic who gloved the ball and rifled a throw to third base cutting down the lead runner and getting the important 2nd out of the inning. Bringing up Pfeiffer's pitcher Kennedy who battled to a 2-2 count and then hit a bullet line drive right back at Zupanic who caught the ball sealing the victory as her Wolves teammates mobbed her on the mound. 

 

Wesleyan (24-14) is sporting the best record in school history and its first ever USA South Tournament wins moves on to face Piedmont College for a 2 out of 3 game Championship Series to determine the USA South Conference Tournament Champion and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The games will be held on Saturday, May 7th and potentially Sunday, May 8th in Demorest, Georgia with game times yet to be determined.