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Freshman Heroics Lead IWU to Walk-Off Win in Extras
May 25, 2026

Freshman Heroics Lead IWU to Walk-Off Win in Extras

COLUMBUS, Ga. - No. 23 Indiana Wesleyan Softball finished up Saturday's postponed game against the no. 10 seed, the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, on Sunday evening in the 2026 NAIA Softball World Series. Originally, the game started yesterday, the 23rd, with the first two innings being completed with a 0-0 tie in place. After rain and lightning forced the game to be suspended, the make-up time was scheduled for today, the 24th, at 1:00 PM. Due to more inclement weather, the game started at 5:00 PM. After a strong pitching performance by both UBC's Carleen Murray and IWU's Avery Toole, the Wildcats came out victorious in the 8th inning of action, 1-0. Today's win marks the first time in program history that Indiana Wesleyan has won multiple games at a Softball World Series! IWU will look to continue their momentum when they take on the loser of Southern Oregon and Southeastern on Monday, the 25th.

Play resumed between the Thunderbirds and Wildcats in the top of the 3rd inning with one out and one runner aboard for UBC. Freshman pitcher Avery Toole put together a great performance in the circle keeping British Columbia off the scoreboard. Toole remained a stalwart on the mound, stranding 7 runners in the 7 regulation innings. Despite getting runners aboard in multiple innings, the Wildcats were unable to add any runs and went to extra innings for the second time in the 2026 World Series. In the 8th, UBC loaded the bases but an excellent defensive play by freshman shortstop Danica Fuller got the Wildcats out of the inning. In the bottom half of the inning, IWU got two runners on base but had two outs. The next freshman to step up was catcher Madisyn Tharpe. Tharpe put a ball in play to the UBC shortstop but beat out the throw with a slide into first base that allowed Emma Wiberg to score from third base and send the Wildcats into the next round.



THE ESSENTIALS

  • Location: Columbus, Georgia / South Commons Complex
  • Records: IWU 42-14 (30-6) | UBC 32-24 (15-9)
  • Game Score: IWU def. UBC 1-0 (8 innings)




GAME HIGHLIGHTS

  • Freshman Avery Toole went all 8 innings in the circle, stranding 10 runners and punching out 7 on her way to a shutout victory.
  • Multiple Wildcats made impressive defensive plays including Whitney Waddell tracking down a long fly ball in left field and Danica Fuller grabbing a deflected ball while keeping her foot on second base to get a game changing out in the 8th inning.
  • The offensive side of the 8th inning started with a single from Maddie Martin. Whitney Waddell got on base with a perfect bunt that advanced Emma Wiberg, who had come in to pinch run for Martin. Leah May moved Wiberg to third base on a fielder's choice but the Wildcats were at 2 outs with a runer in scoring position. Freshman Madisyn Tharpe hit a ball to the shortstop just soft enough to beat out the throw and score Wiberg from third and gave IWU its second walk-off win of the tournament.



KEY WILDCATS




TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 21, 2026

  • Game 1: No. 8 Indiana Wesleyan def. No. 9 Marian, 4-3 (8 Innings)
  • Game 2: No. 4 Mobile def. No. 5 Our Lady of the Lake, 9-1
  • Game 3: No. 3 Southern Oregon def. No. 6 Cumberlands (Ky.), 4-2
  • Game 4: No. 7 College of Idaho def. No. 10 British Columbia, 4-3

Friday, May 22, 2026

  • Game 5: No. 5 Our Lady of the Lake def. No. 9 Marian, 10-2

Saturday, May 23, 2026

  • Game 6: No. 10 British Columbia  def. No. 6 Cumberlands (Ky.), 2-1
  • Game 7: No. 1 Madonna def. No. 8 Indiana Wesleyan, 6-3
  • Game 8: No. 2 Southeastern def. No. 7 College of Idaho, 3-1

Sunday, May 24, 2026

  • Game 9: No. 8 Indiana Wesleyan def. No. 10 British Columbia, 1-0

Monday, May 25, 2026

  • Game 10: No. 7 College of Idaho vs. No. 5 Our Lady of the Lake - 11:00 AM
  • Game 11: No. 2 Southeastern vs. No. 3 Southern Oregon - 1:00 PM
  • Game 12: No. 1 Madonna vs. No. 4 Mobile - 3:00 PM
  • Game 13: No. 8 Indiana Wesleyan vs. Game 11 loser - 5:00 PM
  • Game 14: Game 10 Winner vs Game 12 Loser - 7:00 PM

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

  • Game 15: Game 11 Winner vs. Game 12 Winner - TBD
  • Game 16: Game 13 Winner vs. Game 14 Winner - TBD
  • Game 17: Game 15 Loser vs. Game 16 Winner - TBD

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

  • Game 18: Game 15 Winner vs. Game 17 Winner - 5:00 PM
  • Game 19: Game 18 Winner vs. Game 18 Loser - IF Necessary




NEXT TIME OUT

  • IWU will play the loser of Southern Oregon vs. Southeastern tomorrow at 5:00 PM, weather permitting.





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