MISENHEIMER, N.C. - The #2 seeded NC Wesleyan College Softball team used terrific pitching from senior Beth Braswell to sweep top-seeded Pfeiffer University 4-0 and 4-3 in the East Division Finals on Sunday afternoon to advance to the USA South Tournament finals. The East Division Championship is the Bishops' second in the past three seasons.

The senior-laden Lady Bishops, now 19-15, will next advance to the Conference Tournament Championship series next weekend (Sat.-Sun.) on the road at Piedmont College (20-10). First game is 1 PM Saturday.

Braswell was the star in the first game pitching Wesleyan to a 4-0 win by shutting out the Falcons on just one hit with 8 strikeouts and 4 walks over 7 innings. Wesleyan got out to a quick lead in game one by scoring 3 runs in the first on senior 3B Kayla Molivas' two-out RBI single that scored fellow senior SS Meredith Mize while junior DH Brianna Myers' two-out two-run single brought in Molivas and Braswell.

Wesleyan then added a bunt single from junior LF Logan Winstead in the 5th that eventually brought home 2B Meredith Booth, who scored an insurance run for the Bishops on a PU throwing error.

Braswell (16-5) then finished off the win by retiring 12 of the final 13 batters of the game. 

GAME 2: NCWC 4, PU 3

The Bishops then served as the home team in game two of the Division Series and got out to a 2-0 lead after three innings on an RBI single from Booth that scored Molivas in the 2nd while Braswell drove in senior CF Nichole Mooney in the third on her RBI single.

Pfeiffer then rallied in the 4th scoring three runs on a two-run homer off game two starter Grace Preston and another that came around on a Bishop error as Pfeiffer took a 3-2 lead.

The Falcons would then hold that lead until the 7th inning because Braswell came on in relief in the 4th and again shut down Pfeiffer on just 3 hits and one walk with three strikeouts over the final 4 innings. Wesleyan would then mount their comeback in the bottom of the 7th with Winstead roping a one-out double while Mize followed with a single up the middle to put runners on the corners and prompt a PU pitching change.

After Mize stole second, Winstead would then score the tying run on a wild pitch before PU intentionally walked Braswell. After a Molivas pop-out, Mize would then trot home on another wild pitch to beat the throw at the plate and give the Bishops the unusual walk-off win on the road.

The best-of-three championship series will be played in Demorest, Georgia and hosted by Piedmont who is the higher-remaining divisional seed.

  

Softball Tournament Schedule (all times EST)
(all games hosted by the higher-seeded team)

First Round (Best-of-Three Series)
Saturday, May 1
#2 West-Huntingdon - 0   #1 West-Piedmont - 8 (5 inn.) (Game 1)
#2 West-Huntingdon - 1   #1 West-Piedmont - 9 (6 inn.) (Game 2)

Sunday, May 2
#2 East-N.C. Wesleyan - 4   #1 East-Pfeiffer - 0 (Game 1)
#2 East-N.C. Wesleyan - 4   #1 East-Pfeiffer - 3 (Game 2)

Championship (Best of Three Series)
Saturday, May 8

#2 East-N.C. Wesleyan at #1 West-Piedmont - 1:00 PM (Game 1)
#2 East-N.C. Wesleyan at #1 West-Piedmont -  approx. 3:00 PM (Game 2)

Sunday, May 9

#2 East-N.C. Wesleyan at #1 West-Piedmont - 1:00 PM (Game 3 - if necessary)