TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Illinois Wesleyan softball team opened its 2018 season with a 13-1 win over Coe and a 15-11 loss to No. 2-ranked St. John Fisher in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Leadoff Classic at Lincoln Park in Tucson, Ariz., on Friday, March 2.

Sophomore Brea Walker allowed three hits over four innings to get the win in game one, striking out three. She got offensive support from sophomore Shelby Fulk, who had three hits and two runs batted in, and sophomore Sydney Alery with three hits including two doubles.
Sophomore shortstop Sam Berghoff had a triple, a single and two RBI, sophomore Kara Bischoff added two hits with three runs knocked in, and seniors Stephanie Prentice and Maggie Graham also had a pair of hits in the 14-hit attack.

St. John Fisher banged out 23 hits in scoring 15 against the Titans, who had 13 hits of their own, in the second game of the day. Berghoff had three hits with a home run and a triple and four runs scored. Fulk (who had a double and a triple), Alery and Graham each had two hits.

What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan plays two more games in Tucson on Saturday, March 3, facing No. 24-ranked Berry at 3 p.m. MST and playing Rochester (N.Y.) at 5:30 p.m.