MARION, Ind. --- The Bethel Pilots (9-37, 4-28) fall to the No. 12 Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats (38-6, 27-4) on the road 4-1 and 8-0 at Sue Bowman Field on Tuesday night, with the nightcap ending in a walk-off home run in the bottom of the fifth to force the mercy rule.

GAME 1

Senior Natalee McNeil faced her former team in the opening game of the doubleheader and threw a complete game that came down to a scoring burst by both teams. The Wildcats roped a grand slam from Brylee Bilger in the bottom of the third to get on the board first, then McNeil helped her own cause with a single to right field in the top of the fourth to bring in Markley and made it a 4-1 game.

Despite Shelby White getting on base from an error by the second baseman and Alyssa Forys singling to center, the Pilots fell 4-1. Forys went 3-for-4 with three singles for the lone multi-hit game in the Bethel lineup.

McNeil finished the complete game outing, allowing eight hits and four runs, walked one batter, and struck out three.

GAME 2

In the nightcap, Abby Harvey scored two from a single to right field in the bottom half of the first, followed by Ella Phillips scoring a third run in the inning from a ground out to third to make it 3-0 IWU.

Whitney Waddell singled to right in the bottom of the second to plate Arie Hackett, and then Sadie Harding doubled to left center, bringing in Waddell to make it a 5-0 game. Harvey hit a two-run home run later that inning to pull away to a 7-0 lead.

With the mercy rule one run away, Maddie Martin barreled up a solo home run to walk off the game and secure the 8-0 nightcap win for the Wildcats and the doubleheader sweep.

Harmony Looney (2-7) was credited with the loss after throwing 1.1 innings and allowing two hits, five runs, and walked four batters.

The Pilots continue the road stretch with the Mount Vernon Nazarene Cougars on Wednesday, April 23, at the Cougar Softball Field in Mount Vernon, Ohio, for a doubleheader at 3 p.m. The final doubleheader of the season is at home in Gardner Field with the Grace Lancers on Thursday, April 24, with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

For more information about Bethel Athletics and updates on all 28 sports, check out bupilots.com or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube by searching @bupilots or the hashtag #RightWaytoPlay.