COLUMBUS, Ga. - [Watch On-Demand] Indiana Wesleyan (42-14) outlasted British Columbia (32-24) in a marathon pitchers’ duel, scoring the game’s only run in the bottom of the eighth for a 1–0 victory Saturday at South Commons in Columbus, Georgia. The game resumed after a 22-hour, 46-minute weather delay before the Wildcats finally broke through in extra innings.

For seven innings, neither team could solve the opposing ace. Indiana Wesleyan’s Avery Toole delivered a dominant complete-game shutout, allowing four hits across eight innings while striking out seven and walking four. British Columbia threatened at times by putting runners aboard with singles and walks, but the Thunderbirds could not come up with a timely hit. They finished without an extra-base hit and stranded 10 runners in the loss.

British Columbia starter Carleen Murray nearly matched Toole inning for inning. Murray worked 7 2/3 innings, surrendering just one earned run on six hits while striking out six. She repeatedly escaped trouble, including inducing a critical double play that kept the game scoreless deep into extra innings.

The decisive moment finally came in the bottom of the eighth. After Indiana Wesleyan moved a runner into scoring position, Madisyn Tharpe delivered the walk-off hit, lining an RBI single through the left side to score Emma Wiberg with the game’s lone run. Tharpe’s game-winner capped a tense contest in which the Wildcats managed six hits, including a double from Maddie Martin, but had to wait until the final inning to capitalize.

IWU will take on the loser of Southern Oregon and Southeastern (Fla.) tomorrow.