KENOSHA, Wis. - The No.11-ranked Illinois Wesleyan softball swept a doubleheader at Carthage, winning the first game 7-1 and taking the second game by a 4-3 score in 10 innings.
The Titans improved to 29-7 overall and 8-2 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin while Carthage slips to 12-20 overall and 4-8 in the CCIW.
In game one, IWU scored three runs in the third and added two more in the fifth and seventh.
In the third inning, freshman Maggie Graham led off with a walk and junior shortstop Sam Gudat reached on a fielder's choice. Senior centerfielder Hannah Bowen sent both runners ahead on a sacrifice and junior Laura Bonds scored both with a double to left center. Junior catcher Danielle Smith hit a single that scored Bonds.
Smith finished with a home run and four runs batted in and Bowen had two of the eight Titan hits.
Junior Jenna Noland (6-1) picked up the win, going six innings and striking out nine, allowing five hits and one run.
Game two saw put up single runs in the first and second innings to take a 2-0 lead after two innings before Carthage would respond with single runs of their own in three consecutive innings starting with the fourth inning to take a 3-2 lead. Junior Mary Rankin tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run.
After two extra-innings of play that saw each team get only one hit and leave one runner on base, Bonds led off the bottom of the 10th with a single to the pitcher. Freshman Summer Stitt pinch ran for Bonds and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt . After a groundout by Rankin, pinch hitter Chloe Montgomery hit a walk-off single to bring in the winning run.
Freshman Mackenzie Marquis (8-1) pitched five innings in relief to pick up the win while Montgomery started the game and went five innings, giving up two runs on three hits while striking out four.
What's Next?
The Titans will make-up a home doubleheader against Elmhurst on Monday, April 27 at IWU Field. Postponed from Saturday, first pitch is scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. and the games are pivotal for the Titans who currently sit one game out of first place in loss column in the CCIW standings.