Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Score   |   Game 2 Box Score

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The No. 24-ranked Illinois Wesleyan softball team cruised to wins of 12-0 and 6-0 in a doubleheader sweep to open conference play for 2012 at North Central on Shanower Field in Naperville on Thursday (April 5).

The Titans improved to 14-3 overall and 2-0 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin while the Cardinals slipped to 10-8 overall and 0-2 in the league.

In game one, Illinois Wesleyan opened up the contest by scoring six runs in the third inning with nobody on and two outs.

Junior shortstop Courtney Martin and freshman leftfielder Audra James had back-to-back singles and came home to score on a doubled by junior centerfielder Keri Leach.
Junior third baseman Emma Clark doubled to score Leach and sophomore designated hitter Allie Riordan doubled to bring in Clark. Sophomore catcher Sara Daley reached on an error by the centerfielder that chased home pinch-runner Mackenzie Astling.
Sophomore Jessica Toth then singled to score Daley. IWU tacked on five more runs in the fourth and the game was halted after five.

Sophomore Molly McCready (5-2) limited the Cardinals to two hits while striking out three in three innings and freshman Chloe Montgomery closed out the shutout with two innings, allowing one hit and striking out two.

IWU scored two runs in the first inning of game two, taking advantage of two Cardinal errors to stake starting pitcher Alyssa Vorel to all the runs she would need.

Again with two outs and no one on, Leach singled to right center and Clark singled on a bunt. Riordan then reached on a fielding error by the third baseman, scoring Leach, and Daley got on via a second baseman fielding miscue that scored Clark.

Vorel (4-1) pitched six innings and scattered four hits while striking out four and walking one. Toth pitched a 1-2-3 final inning.

Illinois Wesleyan hosts No. 7-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater (11-1) in a 3 p.m. doubleheader at IWU Field on Friday (April 6).