SALINA, Kan. —

The Oklahoma Wesleyan University Lady Eagles softball team opened the KCAC Tournament with a hard-fought 12–10 win over Ottawa University on Wednesday afternoon, improving to 39–11 on the season.

Ottawa struck first with a three-run homer in the top of the first, but the Eagles answered immediately as Kami Withem blasted a leadoff home run and the offense capitalized on defensive miscues to pull within one. Oklahoma Wesleyan broke the game open in the second inning, scoring seven runs highlighted by a three-run triple from Maria Fory and an RBI single from Maddie Ogle to take a commanding 9–3 lead.

The Eagles continued to pile on in the third when Brooklyn Purtell launched a three-run homer to right-center, pushing the advantage to 12–3. Purtell finished the game with four RBIs, while Withem went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and an RBI. Fory added three RBIs and two runs as part of Oklahoma Wesleyan's 14-hit attack.

Ottawa refused to go quietly, scoring two runs in the fourth, one in the sixth, and four more in the seventh to make things interesting late. Addison Dorsay earned the win in the circle for the Eagles, throwing 4.2 innings, while Lydia Polk secured the save to close out the contest.

With the victory, Oklahoma Wesleyan advanced in the KCAC Tournament and showcased the offensive depth tomorrow, Thursday March, 30th.