MARION, Ind. - After an 8-0 defeat in game one, the Maple Leafs offense quickly found their place in game two and used another dominant pitching performance from Alisyn Catenacci to win 7-2 against #6 Indiana Wesleyan. It is the second straight year that the softball team has beaten IWU when they were ranked in the top ten.

"Game two was a complete 180 from game one," head coach Luke Wagner said. "The athletes played loose, with energy, and with purpose. Today we got a quality win against an excellent program."

Goshen is 2-2 in their last four games with the Wildcats. Before that, they were on a 21-game losing streak against IWU, with the previous win coming on April 15, 2015. It didn't start well for the Leafs on Tuesday afternoon, as they managed just four hits in game one. IWU led 2-0 after three innings, but then the home team scored two runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Two of the runs came on RBI triples. Goshen's top four hitters in the lineup had the team's four hits - Kaylee Kates, Shea VanScoter, Ella Mcleod, and Mckenzie Richardson. Grace Schmitt (0-2) allowed six earned runs in 4.2 innings pitched.

Wagner noted that the team played too tight in game one, but he acknowledged some of the players that took it upon themselves to address the group between the games. "They reemphasized the importance of playing 'our' game and playing together," he said. "I'm really proud of the leaders that are developing and finding their voices and doing so in a positive way."

Despite not scoring in the first game, the Maple Leafs quickly got on the board in the second game of the doubleheader. Singles from Kates, VanScoter, and Mcleod loaded the bases with no outs. Richardson walked a run in, and Alisyn Catenacci brought in two runs with her single through the right side. GC had four hits in the first inning alone compared to four in game one. IWU scored two runs in the bottom of the third, but Mcleod quickly took the three-run lead back with a two-RBI double to center field. She added an RBI single in the fifth inning to increase the lead to 6-2. Lastly, Richardson hit an RBI single in the seventh to make it 7-2.

The five-run victory is Goshen's largest margin of victory over the Wildcats since an 8-0 shutout in Goshen on March 31, 2011, and their most significant margin of victory in Marion in program history. Catenacci threw a complete game, allowing just one earned run on four hits while not giving up any walks. After starting the season with an 0-2 record, Catenacci is now at a 7-2 record with a 2.57 ERA.

Shea VanScoter and Ella Mcleod had three hits each for Goshen. VanScoter scored twice, and Mcleod had three RBIs. Richardson and Catenacci also had multiple RBIs, and Kaylee Kates scored twice.

Now at 15-8 overall and 7-3 in the Crossroads League, Goshen is home on Thursday, March 30, to take on Saint Francis. These games were originally going to be played on March 18 but were rescheduled due to weather. The start time for game one is at 3:00 pm. The Leafs are 3-0 at home this season.