MELBOURNE, Fla. (March 7, 2025) — Conquistadors softball (9-8) sustained a tough 13-1 loss to the NAIA's No. 18-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University Wildcats (8-2) Friday. The Conquistadors are now 2-1 at the 2025 Space Coast Games and 0-2 against top-25 schools this season. 

On March 6, FNU had an excellent opening day at the USSSA Space Coast Games, with two shutout wins against conference rival Fisher College and Cleary University. Despite the great outing the previous night, FNU fell flat against a talented Wildcat team the following afternoon.

The Wildcats got busy early with an RBI single by Abby Harvey. This highlighted a one-run, two-hit frame by Indiana Wesleyan, where Whitney Waddell recorded a bunt single to lead off the frame. FNU struggled once again in the second, leaving a walked Gianna Hall stranded at first base after the Wildcats produced three routine outs.

Indiana used this defensive push to produce a 12-0 run through the second and third innings. Catcher Brylee Bilger highlighted this run with a home run before FNU faced a 13-0 deficit heading into the fourth. In a step in the right direction, catcher Alyssa Julien got FNU on the board with a base hit that ran in Alissia Vega. 

The Conquistadors looked to avoid an early exit but left Hall stranded at second as Isabella Silva flied out to right field. In the fifth, FNU hit a wall on offense when they needed it most. Ciara Santiago struck out setting to start the frame, Alyssa Songer was popped out to third base and a line out on Kirra James delivered the Wildcats their first win of the afternoon. 

FNU totaled two hits and three errors, while Indiana Wesleyan posted 13 hits and one error. 

Up Next: Day three at the Space Coast Games features FNU softball in afternoon contests against Cornerstone University and the University of Michigan-Dearborn.