McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University softball team faced a challenging home-opening doubleheader against No. 11 Trine University on March 22, resulting in two losses. The Titans were defeated 6-2 in the first game and narrowly lost 6-5 in the second. These setbacks brought IWU's record to 6-4, while Trine improved to 14-4.

In the opening game, Trine took an early lead with three runs before Illinois Wesleyan had their chance at bat. Hailey Milgazo initiated a response for IWU with a single, followed by Jen Kuhn's double that reduced the deficit to two runs. Freshman Ella Hermes played a key role by entering as relief and preventing further scoring opportunities for Trine.

Despite Milgazo's efforts, including a three-hit performance, Illinois Wesleyan couldn't overcome miscues that allowed Trine to secure three more runs in the seventh inning, concluding the game at 6-2.

In the second matchup of the day, Trine established a strong position with multiple runs across several innings, leading 6-1 by the fifth inning. A notable moment came when Jen Kuhn hit a three-run homerun that closed the gap to two runs. However, despite further efforts from players like Anna Beckman and Bella Pinter, IWU could not complete their comeback.

Looking ahead, Illinois Wesleyan aims to recover as they prepare for another set of games against Illinois College on March 26 in Jacksonville.