McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University softball team secured a double victory against Elmhurst University on Saturday, April 13, in Elmhurst, Illinois. The wins improved the Titans' season record to 16-7 and their conference record to 3-1 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). Meanwhile, Elmhurst University's Bluejays fell to 9-14 overall and remain winless in the CCIW with a 0-5 record.

In the first game, Illinois Wesleyan won 4-1 after nine innings. Sophomore Gianna Certa kept the game scoreless through four innings with a series of strikeouts. Freshman Elyssa Stenger played a key role with her hitting prowess, but the team initially struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities. The Titans finally broke through in extra innings when senior Bailey Turner scored off an RBI single by Stenger. Elmhurst tied it up briefly before sophomore Casey Wissmiller's triple set up junior Jen Kuhn for an RBI double that reclaimed the lead. Two throwing errors by Elmhurst allowed additional runs for Illinois Wesleyan.

Certa's performance was pivotal as she completed a nine-inning game with six strikeouts and five hits allowed. The Titans had twelve hits in total, with freshmen Hailey Milgazo and Elyssa Stenger leading offensively.

In the second game, Illinois Wesleyan dominated with a 14-6 run-rule victory over five innings. Their offense surged early with five runs in the second inning. Senior Ava Khoury hit two home runs during this game, contributing significantly to their lead. Freshman Mallory Holland provided relief pitching that helped maintain their advantage.

Illinois Wesleyan will continue its road games with another CCIW matchup at North Central College on Thursday, April 18.