Rocky Mount, N.C. - N.C. Wesleyan's softball team wrapped up its regular season slate over the weekend, splitting doubleheaders with Salem College and Pfeiffer University at Edge Field. Prior to Saturday's games versus Pfeiffer, the Bishops and head coach John Brackett honored the seven senior members of their squad: Logan Lowery, Kaitlyn Checkan, Alexis Rodriguez, Alicia Burns, Peyton Hyler, Sarah Bowyer, and Natalie Boykin.

On Friday, the Bishops completed USA South Conference play against eventual East Division champion Salem (21-15, 12-4 USA South). The Spirits overcame a 4-1 deficit in game one to earn a 9-4 victory, while the nightcap saw Wesleyan post an 11-1 win in five innings. Freshman Beth Braswell did most of the damage in game two, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a homerun and three RBIs. She proceeded to pick up the complete-game win in the circle, allowing just one unearned run on three hits.

Saturday's twinbill opened with Pfeiffer posting a 12-1 win in five innings. The Falcons plated seven runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by back-to-back-to-back homeruns. Wesleyan, however, rebounded for a 6-1 win in the finale, marking just the fourth loss of the season for Pfeiffer (30-4). Braswell moved to 10-4 overall with yet another pitching gem, scattering four hits and striking out four over seven complete.

Offensively, Braswell again helped her own cause by delivering a two-run double in the fifth that gave NCWC a 2-1 lead. Fellow freshmen Meredith Mize, Nichole Mooney, and Meredith Smith also drove in runs in the six-run frame that set Wesleyan up for the eventual win.

Burns led the seniors by going 3-for-6 on the day, with Checkan, Hyler, and Boykin also adding hits. Lowery (6-8) and Bowyer completed the battery in the opener, and Rodriguez was awarded her first start of the season in right.

The Bishops complete regular season play with a 21-13 overall record. With a 10-6 mark in league action, Wesleyan finishes tied for 3rd-place in the conference standings with Averett University and Ferrum College. Via USA South tiebreak procedures, AU was awarded the #3 seed, NCWC the #4 seed, and FC the #5 seed for next weekend's opening rounds of the 2018 USA South Tournament. The Bishops will now travel to Averett for a best-of-three series next Saturday and Sunday, with the winner advancing to LaGrange, Georgia the following weekend.