Elmhurst 2, Illinois Wesleyan 1 - Box Score, Game One

Elmhurst 8, Illinois wesleyan 6 - Box Score, Game Two

ELMHURST, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan softball team suffered a pair of losses at Elmhurst on Sunday, April 18, falling 2-1 in the first game and 8-6 in the nightcap.

The Titans are now 21-11 overall and 7-5 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin while the Bluejays improved to 19-11 overall and 6-4 in the league.

In the opener, Elmhurst scored a run in the fifth on a wild pitch by Christy Engel and a run in the sixth with two outs to hold a 2-0 lead. The Titans battled back in the seventh with a run as Kris Lee singled to center with one out and pinch runner Sam Rubright scored on Caitlin Carpenter's triple to right field. After Stephanie Polich walked, Engel flied out to centerfield and pinch runner Lisa Narotsky was thrown out at the plate to end the game.

Engel allowed two runs on two hits while walking one and striking out four, but threw two wild pitches and hit a batter.

Elmhurst took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the second game but IWU battled back to tie the issue at 2-2 with runs in the first and third, both coming on RBI singles by Kayla Mahoney.
After the Bluejays scored three in the top of the fourth, the Titans plated three in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at 5-5. Polich singled through the left side and stole second before being brought home on a double by Allison Ward. Alyssa Vorel singled home Ward and Carpenter hit her first of two doubles to knock in Vorel.

IWU went ahead 6-5 in the sixth when Ward singled home Polich, who had reached on a fielder's choice.

But Elmhurst scored three in the top of the seventh inning as Becca Zumpf doubled to left center and went to third on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on a double by Amanda Bowlin. Maureen Roderick then singled home Bowlin and Gina Venier got a hit to left center that drove home Roderick.

Katie Bruins was the losing hurler in the second game, allowing three runs on five hits. Starter Alyssa Vorel lasted 1/3 of an inning, allowing two hits and a walk, and Lauren James was touched for three runs on four hits in 4 2/3 innings.