McLean County Times

Playing its first two games of a six-game stretch, the Illinois Wesleyan University softball team split a doubleheader at North Central College on Friday, April 19. In the first game, IWU defeated NCC with a score of 2-0. However, in the second game, IWU was unable to maintain their momentum and lost 4-0. Following these matches, Illinois Wesleyan's record stands at 17-8 overall and 4-2 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Meanwhile, North Central College improved to a record of 20-6 overall and 5-3 in the league.

In Game One, sophomore Anna Beckman from Bourbonnais began with an extended at-bat that resulted in a walk. Junior Jen Kuhn from Normal hit a triple to right field that brought Beckman home after she stole second base. Sophomore Casey Wissmiller from Bloomington contributed with an RBI single up the middle to increase IWU's lead to 2-0 by the end of the first half-inning.

North Central managed to get two hits in the fourth inning but could not capitalize further as sophomore Gianna Certa from Third Lake delivered three consecutive shallow fly balls to stop NCC's advance and leave two runners stranded. Certa allowed only one more hit for the rest of her complete game performance, finishing with seven strikeouts while conceding just three hits.

Kuhn, Wissmiller, and senior Megan Fontanetta from Arlington Heights each recorded a hit during this game.

In Game Two, North Central turned things around by scoring early with a triple down the right-field line giving them a 1-0 lead during their first batting opportunity. The Cardinals added two more runs in the fifth inning through three hits before securing an insurance run with a two-out RBI single in the seventh inning.

Despite being down to their final chances at bat, IWU couldn't overcome NCC's defense resulting in their loss by 4-0.

Sophomore Caroline Gatchell from Grayslake pitched throughout this match achieving a career-high seven strikeouts but ultimately took responsibility for this defeat.

Illinois Wesleyan achieved five hits compared to North Central’s nine hits across both games combined; five different players registered one hit each for IWU.

The Titans will face Carthage College next on April 20 at Inspiration Field where they aim for better results starting at 1 p.m.