EVANSVILLE, Ind. – A five-run fifth inning for Kentucky Wesleyan (4-7) proved too much for the Purdue Northwest softball team (2-3) to overcome as the Pride fell 6-0 Sunday afternoon at the Deaconess Sports Park in the Midwest Region Crossover.

Aubrey Shroyer's single to right field with one out in the top of the first inning was the only hit that PNW could muster against KWC's Evyn Hendrickson, who collected a career-high 16 strikeouts.

PNW's Courtney Blackwell did a great job of getting out of some sticky situations in the circle for the Pride, but KWC was finally able to break through and push runs across the board in the fifth inning. A walk and a fielder's choice would load the bases for Macy Flanigan, who sent a 2-1 pitch over the fence for a grand slam to put KWC up 5-0. KWC's Madison Scott would collect another RBI in the bottom of the sixth to put the game away for the Panthers.

A two-out walk drawn by Montana Martinez in the top of the seventh was the lone free pass Hendrickson surrendered. She only faced two above the minimum to improve to 3-3 on the year.

Blackwell only allowed four hits across four shutout innings before the ball bounced the Panthers' way in the fifth. Abbie May came on in relief to pitch the final inning and a half.
 
NEXT UP
PNW will be back on the road next weekend with a three-game series at Ohio Dominican in Columbus, Ohio. ODU is 3-5 on the season after going 3-1 this weekend at home against Saginaw Valley State and West Liberty.

First pitch for Friday's single game is slated for 3 p.m. CST and Saturday's doubleheader will begin at noon CST.