BOTETOURT, Va. – A historic season came to a bitter end on Thursday as Southern Wesleyan softball was knocked out of the NCCAA National Tournament by Cedarville, falling 7-5.

The Warriors managed to secure their first winning season since 2002 (as far back as records currently go) and reached the national tournament for the first time since it was just an invitational tournament in 1994.

SWU was able to out-hit Cedarville on Thursday, 11-7, but gave up six bases on balls including a bases loaded walk in the fifth that proved to be the difference. The Warriors also hit a batter with the bases loaded in the fifth as Cedarville took a 6-4 lead. The Yellow Jackets added another run in the sixth, as Nicole Davis walked and scored on a double by Brianne O'Dell.

The Warriors created plenty of drama in the final inning. After a groundout to start the inning, both Lizzie Fela and Ashleigh Wilbur walked to bring the tying run to the plate. Callie Wayne notched her third hit of the game – a shot up the middle – to load the basses. Allison Parker followed with a single to left to bring home Fela but the rally stalled there. A foul out and a strike out ended the threat, the game and the season for the Warriors.

Cedarville looked to be pulling away from the Warriors early, scoring once in the first and three more times in the third to hold a 4-0 lead. In the third, Haley Collins put the Warriors right back into the game with a three-run homer to center, her second of the season. Fela scored in the fifth to tie the game at 4-4, reaching second on a fielding error in right and coming home on Ashleigh Wilbur's single up the middle.

Ultimately the Warriors just couldn't find the run-scoring hits when they had their chances, leaving 10 on base. SWU left six at second or third in the game, including four in the first three innings.

Taylor Fox and Callie Wayne both had multi-hit games in their final game in a SWU uniform. Wayne collected three hits including a double in the fourth and scored a run on Collins' homer. Fox also had a double in the game but was left stranded at second after both of her hits.

The Warriors completed the season at 24-21 and 11-7 in Conference Carolinas.