WHEATON, Ill. -- The No. 8-ranked Illinois Wesleyan bounced back from Wednesday's split against Millikin in a big way by sweeping No. 24-ranked Wheaton in a conference doubleheader by scores of 3-1 in 10 innings and 4-0 at Ruth Leedy Field on Saturday, April 16. 

IWU is now 21-5 and 6-2 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin while the Thunder, who came into Saturday tied with the Titans in the conference standings, fell to 20-8 and 6-4 in the league. 

Game one saw a pitcher's duel for much of the game, with each team pushing across only a single run in the sixth inning. Following scoreless eighth and ninth innings, Illinois Wesleyan scored two runs on back-to-back hits by senior shortstop Sam Gudat and senior leftfielder Mary Rankin to go along with one Wheaton error before holding the Thunder scoreless to earn the win. 

Freshman centerfielder Jillian Runyon and Gudat each had two of the Titans six hits in the game, with Julie Josten and Rankin getting the other hits. 

Senior Jenna Noland (9-2) toughed it out in the circle, throwing all 10 innings in the game and giving up six hits while striking out 13. 

IWU jumped out early in game two, scoring two runs in each of the first two innings while handcuffing the Thunder on only three hits. The Titans strung together three hits in the first inning with Gudat and Josten doing the damage to drive in Runyon and Gudat. In the second inning, Illinois Wesleyan would knock Wheaton starter Kendall Kehres out the game when two of the first three batters recorded hits, before two straight RBI singles would knock reliever Abby Butler. 

Four runs of support would be more than enough for sophomore pitcher Mackenzie Marquis (11-3), who struck out three in six innings of work before Taylor Marvin closed out the game by pitching a scoreless final inning.

What's Next?
A quick turnaround awaits the Titans, who will play a CCIW doubleheader at Elmhurst starting at 12 p.m. on Sunday, April 17th. The Blujeays last played on Thursday, dropping a road doubleheader to conference leader North Central by scores of 1-0 and 10-7.