Wesleyan Upsets #25 and Top-Seeded Pfeiffer Softball in USA South Divisional Tournament

Misenheimer, N.C. (April 28, 2022) – Fifth-seeded Wesleyan College plated four runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 6-3 lead and withstood a Pfeiffer rally to take a 6-3 upset win in the first round of the USA South Divisional Tournament on Thursday afternoon at a sunny and warm Jack Ingram Field

The Basics
#5W Wesleyan def. #25 – #1E Pfeiffer, 6-3

Records
Wesleyan – 22-14
Pfeiffer – 32-9

Location – Misenheimer, N.C. – Jack Ingram Field

How it Happened
The top-seeded Falcons wasted no time in jumping on the visiting Wolves, plating a pair of runs in the first inning.  Freshman Gracie Griffin (Calabash, N.C.) who was named USA South Freshman of the Year, drilled a double down the left field line in her first plate appearance to allow Ashlynn Kennedy (New London, N.C.) to score from first base.  Fellow freshman Emma Chopko (Mooresville, N.C.) reached on an error, allowing Griffin to come around for the 2-0 lead.

The Pfeiffer lead would then go to 3-0 in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Kennedy, which allowed Mattie Hinson (Norwood, N.C.) to score.

Wesleyan would trim the Pfeiffer lead to 3-1 in the third inning on an RBI double by Savannah Pollock while in the sixth inning, a sacrifice fly drew the Wolves closer at 3-2.

In the seventh inning, Pfeiffer retired the first two batters, but Wesleyan then loaded the bases and would tie the game on a bases-loaded walk by Bailey Caldwell.

J.J. Wright would then get a two-RBI single to right field to give Wesleyan the 5-3 lead and another RBI single by Tihana Zupanic pushed the Wesleyan lead to 6-3.

Pfeiffer would load the bases in the bottom of the seventh with no outs, but would not be able to capitalize on the opportunity with Wesleyan scoring the uoset win over the Falcons.

Up Next
Wesleyan will advance to take on Huntingdon College, the second-seed from the West Division on Friday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.  Huntingdon was a 4-0 winner over William Peace in the second game of the afternoon.

The Falcons will meet East Division foe William Peace at Noon on Friday in the first elimination game of the tournament.