MONMOUTH, Ill. -- Senior Jenna Noland and sophomore Mackenzie Marquis combined to give up one run over 13 innings as the No. 13-ranked Illinois Wesleyan softball team swept Monmouth College by scores of 9-1 and 10-0 (6 inn.) in a pair of nonconference games at the Monmouth College Softball field in Monmouth, Ill. on Tuesday, April 5. 

The Titans have now won 15 straight games after starting the season 0-3, the longest winning streak since 2009 and second longest in school history (21 games, 2014). Monmouth dropped to 11-7 with the losses. 

In game one, Noland gave up two hits leading to one run in the bottom of the first inning before shutting out the Scots over the next five innings of work. Freshman Taylor Marvin came in to toss the final inning, setting down Monmouth in order. The IWU offense was stifled for the first three innings of the game before finally breaking through to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth. Illinois Wesleyan tacked on three runs in the fifth before plating four runs in the seventh to come away with the eight-run victory. 

Jillian Runyon led the Titans in game one at the plate, going two-for-four with two singles while driving in two runs. Senior Mary Rankin continued on her recent hot streak, smacking two doubles in her only two official at-bats in the game in addition to walking twice. 

Game two saw IWU jump out to an early 2-0 lead after one inning of play, adding four innings in the fifth and six innings to force the eight-run mercy rule into effect. Rankin again would pace the Titan offfense, going 3-for-3 with three singles and an RBI. Senior Laura Bonds joined Rankin by collecting a hit in all four of her at-bats, driving in three RBI's and scoring twice. 

Marquis kept Monmouth batters guessing throughout the game, surrendering only two hits over five innings of work while collecting six strikeouts. Junior Alie Tarrant pitched the final inning of the game, walking one without giving up a hit. 

What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan returns to College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play with a doubleheader at Augustana on Wednesday, April 6. The Vikings are 10-14 this season and sit at 0-2 in the CCIW after dropping a pair of games at Wheaton last Saturday.