McLean County Times

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - In a competitive matchup, the Illinois Wesleyan University softball team managed to split their games against Illinois College on Wednesday, March 26. The Titans, now 7-5 for the season, bounced back in game two with a narrow 2-1 victory after falling 7-0 in the first game to the Lady Blues, whose record stands at 9-9.

In game one, Illinois College quickly established dominance with a 4-0 lead in the first inning, later extending it by two in the second inning. Illinois Wesleyan's junior player, Casey Wissmiller, attempted to initiate a comeback in the fifth inning with a double, but the team's efforts were thwarted after failing to capitalize on loaded bases. Freshman Ella Hermes had a notable performance, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Despite this, the Titans were unable to rally, resulting in a 7-0 defeat.

During this game, Hermes also faced challenges as the losing pitcher. Freshman Maddie Pool delivered a strong relief performance with a career-high of eight strikeouts over five innings.

In the second game, Illinois Wesleyan secured a win thanks to a key two-out double by junior Claire Post in the sixth inning, which brought in seniors Ava Koury and Jen Kuhn, giving the Titans a 2-0 lead. Although Illinois College responded with a home run, junior Gianna Certa maintained the lead by effectively retiring the subsequent batters, securing the victory.

Certa had an impressive complete game showing, with no walks issued and six strikeouts, improving her record to 4-1. Kuhn led the Titans with a 2-for-3 performance and scored a run, complemented by hits from six other teammates.

Looking ahead, Illinois Wesleyan will host a weekend tournament from March 29-30 at Inspiration Field in Bloomington. The tournament will feature Wartburg College, DePauw University, and Lake Forest College, beginning with an initial game against Wartburg at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 29.