McLean County Times

Illinois Wesleyan University senior shortstop Jen Kuhn has been named to the 2025 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Pitcher and Player of the Year watchlist. Kuhn is among 119 student-athletes recognized, joining Alaina Diaz from Augustana as the only players from the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin on the list.

Kuhn has been leading the offensive efforts for the Titans with a .500 batting average. She currently tops the team in several categories, including hits (30), RBIs (27), doubles (9), total bases (45), slugging percentage (.750), and on-base percentage (.492). Additionally, the lineup features five players maintaining batting averages above .300, with senior Ava Khoury at .392 and freshman Bella Pinter at .362.

In the pitching department, three Titans pitchers have contributed significantly. Junior Gianna Certa has pitched 43.2 innings with a 6-2 record and 24 strikeouts. Freshman Maddie Pool leads with 32 strikeouts in 34.1 innings, and sophomore Mallory Holland boasts a 2.00 ERA over 21.0 innings.

The Titans currently hold a 12-6 record after splitting games with the 16th-ranked UW-Whitewater, defeating them 3-0 in the second game. This weekend, Illinois Wesleyan will host The College of Wooster and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire at Inspiration Field.

The tournament, which includes Sunday's Military Appreciation Game in memory of Jack Brown, will have Illinois Wesleyan facing Wooster for the first time in their program's history. Illinois Wesleyan holds a 10-5 advantage in past encounters with Eau Claire, though the Blugolds have won the two most recent meetings.

Changes have been made to the tournament schedule due to expected rain, with games set to commence on Saturday at 10 a.m. between UW-Eau Claire and Wooster.