The Goshen College softball team travelled to Indiana Wesleyan University on Tuesday for a Crossroads League doubleheader. Early offense in both games from the Wildcats would be the deciding factor, as Goshen fell in both contests by scores of 11-5 and 6-0.

The day’s first run came in the bottom of the first inning, when the Wildcats earned a pair of walks and then came around to score after a wild pitch and a sacrifice groundout.

The Wildcats would strike again in the second, taking a 2-0 lead when a runner came in to score on a wild throw on an infield grounder.

The third inning didn’t get any better for the Maple Leafs, as a quick top half of the inning was followed by a lengthy six-run offensive spurt from Indiana Wesleyan to give them an 8-0 lead heading into the fourth.

Goshen was able to get the bats going in the fourth, as Aryana Nacker, junior, led off with a double deep down the right field line, followed by a 2-run home run over the centerfield wall from Brooke Maes, sophomore, to bring the score to 8-2.

The Wildcat offense didn’t hesitate to respond in the bottom of the fourth, adding on three more runs to take a nine-run lead, 11-2.

With potential of an early finish due to the eight-run mercy rule, the Maple Leafs found a way to stay alive, producing their largest inning of either game. Goshen plated three runs to keep the game alive at 11-5.

Defense took over the rest of the way, as neither team produced any more runs and the opening game of the doubleheader finished at 11-5 in favor of Indiana Wesleyan.

Rae Ann Miller, a first-year, picked up the loss on 5 1/3 innings of work, giving up six runs (four earned) on four hits while walking six and striking out six.

In the second game of the day it was all Indiana Wesleyan. While Goshen was able to get base runners in the top of the first, strong defensive play from the Wildcats kept the Maple Leafs at bay.

The Wildcats carried their offensive strength from the first game over into game two, as they scored one, two and three runs in the second, third and fifth innings respectively to take the game’s final score of 6-0.

Goshen was held to just three hits in the second game, and starter Kylee Welsh, senior, picked up the loss on 4 2/3 innings of work, allowing six runs (three earned) on 10 hits while striking out one.

With the loss Goshen drops to 3-22 overall and 1-9 in the Crossroads League.

The team is back in action on Thursday when they host Taylor University for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.