McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University softball team is poised for a significant clash against Augustana College, as they aim to secure the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Regular Season Championship outright. The game, scheduled for April 30 at Inspiration Field in Bloomington, Illinois, carries the weight of hosting rights for the upcoming league tournament. The Titans, with a record of 27-7, remain unbeaten in the conference at 14-0.

A successful weekend in Wisconsin, marked by a sweep of Carroll and Carthage, boosted the Titans into the NFCA Top-25, where they rank 22nd nationally. Augustana approaches the contest with a solid 24-10 record, with just two losses in conference play.

The Titans' lineup features ten regular starters maintaining a batting average above .300. Senior shortstop Jen Kuhn leads the team with a .449 average, alongside team-highs in several other statistics such as hits and RBIs. Freshmen Grace Wilkens and Bella Pinter, as well as senior Ava Khoury, are among the top contributors.

The pitching unit has seen six hurlers in action this season. Sophomore Mallory Holland boasts the best conference ERA at 1.37. Junior Gianna Certa, who tops the team in strikeouts, has been a mainstay on the mound with 14 wins.

The Titans and the Vikings share a longstanding rivalry dating back to 1997, with Illinois Wesleyan leading the series 47-27. Last season, the Titans clinched a split on the Vikings' home ground and secured a win in their subsequent tournament encounter.

The start time for Wednesday's twin bill has been adjusted to 1 p.m., in light of predicted rain. Additional information, including live stream and stats, is accessible on the IWU sports website.