McLean County Times

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University softball team has secured the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Regular Season Championship with a 5-4 victory over Augustana College, followed by a 12-1 win. The Titans, ranked 22nd, completed an undefeated CCIW season and are set to host the conference tournament from May 8 to 11 at Inspiration Field.

Illinois Wesleyan (31-7, 14-0 CCIW) clinched the championship outright after overcoming a 4-0 deficit against Augustana by sealing a comeback win in the first game. In the second game, the team dominated with a substantial run-rule win.

In the initial matchup, Illinois Wesleyan faced an early challenge when the Vikings took a 4-0 lead. However, a solo home run by senior Jen Kuhn and a two-run single by senior Ava Khoury helped close the gap. The Titans tied the game in the fifth and took the lead in the sixth following a key RBI single by freshman Maddie Pool.

Junior Caroline Gatchell effectively limited the Vikings to four hits over 6.1 scoreless innings, striking out five batters. She was supported by sophomore Mallory Holland, who secured the save. Kuhn and freshman Julia Wilkens were instrumental in the offense, securing a combined five hits.

The second game saw Illinois Wesleyan trailing initially, but the team responded with runs in the second and third innings. An eight-run sixth inning sealed the victory, largely driven by a mix of singles and Viking errors. Freshman Ella Hermes contributed by pitching a 1-2-3 final inning, striking out five while conceding only three hits.

With 14 hits in the second game, notable performances came from Casey Wissmiller and Jillian Bollard, both securing multi-hit games. The Titans will take a short break before the CCIW Tournament, with tournament details and brackets to be shared later.