KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Outstanding complete-game pitching from junior
Mackenzie Marquis and sophomore
Taylor Marvin staked the Illinois Wesleyan softball team to a pair of wins to open the season at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla., on Sunday, March 12.
In the first games for new head coach
Tiffany Prager, the Titans opened with a 6-1 win over Lesley University, also opening its season, and got a two-hitter from Marvin in a 2-1 win over Gustavus Adolphus, who fell to 10-4 this year.
Marquis allowed four hits and struck out seven in the opener, supported by an 11-hit attack. Junior righfielder
Maggie Graham had a sacrifice fly and a two-run single for three runs batted in and senior third baseman
Katie Caulfield had three hits. Sophomore
Julie Josten, freshman
Kara Bischoff and junior outfielder
Stephanie Prentice each had two hits.
Marvin pitched 5 2/3 innings of no-hit ball before allowing two consecutive singles with two outs in the sixth inning. She struck out one, walked one batter and induced 11 ground ball outs.
IWU, which got only three hits in the contest, got its first run in the third when sophomore centerfielder
Jillian Runyon tripled to open the inning and stole home with two outs. The Titans scored the winning run in the seventh when freshman pinch hitter
Shelby Fulk ripped a double down the third base line and scored on a Runyon single.
What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan will play William Paterson at 1:30 p.m. ET and St. Norbert at 3:45 p.m. ET on Monday, March 13 at the Osceola County Sports Complex in Kissimmee.