BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – After dropping game one 4-3 in 10 innings, the Illinois Wesleyan softball team topped Augustana 9-2 to claim the championship of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tournament and earn the league's automatic berth into the NCAA postseason tournament.

The loss in game one snapped an 11-game winning streak for Illinois Wesleyan who will enter regional play with a record of 36-8 while Augustana slipped to 28-14-1. llinois Wesleyan will play in the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament, beginning on Friday, May 8 at a site to be announced on Monday morning at 9 a.m. on NCAA.com selection show.

IWU will be making its 14th NCAA tournament appearance and fourth in a row. IWU teams have posted a 27-26 record (.509 winning percentage) in NCAA competition.

The Titans trailed 1-0 after two innings but responded with two RBI singles from junior second baseman Laura Bonds and junior catcher Danielle Smith.
 
Augustana added two of their own in the top half of the sixth, forcing Illinois Wesleyan to push a run across in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. The Titans would get that run when freshman designated hitter Amanda Lack doubled to left field. Freshman Summer Stitt pinch-ran for Lack, senior Chloe Montgomery sent Stitt to third on a bunt and a sacrifice fly by sophomore third baseman pushed the tying run across the plate.
 
Following two scoreless innings, Augustana got a solo home run from leftfielder Laura Behnke in the top of the 10^th and Christie Wiersma held IWU scoreless to force the decisive winner-take-all game.
 
Junior Jenna Noland (9-2) threw all 10 innings for the Titans, allowing four runs on three hits while striking out 11 Viking batters.
 
Illinois Wesleyan won in convincing fashion in game two to win their second consecutive CCIW tournament crown, scoring two first inning runs and adding a run in the third before jumping on Augustana for six runs in the sixth.
 
The Vikings only threat came in the fourth inning with two runs, as Montgomery kept Augustana in check on eight hits while hurling a complete game. With 19 wins on the season, Montgomery (19-3) is now tied for third all-time for wins in a single season with Kelly Murray (2003).
 
Smith was the key Titan contributor in game two, going three-for-four with three runs batted in while senior centerfielder Hannah Bowen also recorded three hits in four at-bats with three runs scored.
 
What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan will play in the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament, beginning on Friday, May 8 at a site to be announced on Monday morning.