KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Illinois Wesleyan softball team lost a pair of games to nationally-ranked teams on Thursday, March 16, at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla.
The Titans are now 5-3 overall after a 4-2 setback to No. 19-ranked SUNY Cortland (4-3) and a 5-4 loss to No. 6-ranked Messiah (10-2).
Against Cortland, the Titans had singles from seven different players. Sophomore centerfielder
Jillian Runyon led off the game with a single, stole second and scored on a ground out by freshman shortstop
Shelby Fulk.
IWU scored their other run in the sixth with two outs when Fulk scored on a bases-loaded single by freshman pinch hitter
Sam Berghoff.
Junior
Mackenzie Marquis (2-1) took the loss, working six innings and allowing four runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
The Titans took a 1-0 lead in the first against Messiah when, with one out, junior second baseman
Summer Stitt doubled and scored on a shortstop fielding error on a ball off the bat of sophomore third baseman
Julie Josten.
Trailing 5-2 headed into the final inning, Stitt singled and Fulk reached on an error. With one out, junior rightfielder
Maggie Graham singled home two runs to close the gap to 5-4 but IWU stranded two runners to end the game. IWU left 10 runners on base in the game compared to three for the Falcons.
Sophomore starting pitcher
Taylor Marvin (2-2) allowed just one earned run on five hits across five innings with no walks.
What's Next?
The Titans wrap up their spring break schedule with two games on Friday, March 17 – IWU takes on No. 13-ranked Wis.-Eau Claire at 9 a.m. ET and plays Washington (Md.) at 11:15 a.m. ET.
