ELMHURST, Ill. -- The No. 10-ranked Illinois Wesleyan softball team shut out the Elmhurst College Bluejays in back-to-back games on Saturday, March 31, defeating them by final scores of 5-0 and 3-0. Sophomore Brittany Murphy finished the doubleheader a combined 5-for-7 from the plate with two RBI coming in game two.

With a sweep of the Bluejays, Illinois Wesleyan improved to 13-3 on the season alongside an unblemished 6-0 record in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). Elmhurst fell to 5-11 overall and 0-2 in the CCIW with a pair of losses to the Titans.

In game one, sophomore Ally Wiegand (6-1) pitched a complete game shutout for the Titans allowing four hits and striking out nine batters. Wiegand lowered her season earned run average to 1.65 and currently owns a 70:1 strikeout to walk ratio, which ranks No. 1 in all of NCAA Division III softball.

After being held scoreless through the first two innings, Illinois Wesleyan broke out a 3-run third inning due in part to their 3-4-5 hitters. With two outs, sophomore Sam Berghoff singled through the left side to score senior Stephanie Prentice, who led-off the inning with a single. A series of errors allowed for Berghoff to score after sophomore Shelby Fulk singled in the ensuing at-bat. After Fulk advanced to second on an error, sophomore Kara Bischoff singled through the right side to bring her home.

Pinch hitting for sophomore Sydney Alery, senior Summer Stitt drove junior Jillian Runyon in on a single to center. Another fielding mistake by the Bluejays allowed for Murphy to score in the fifth inning. In total, Elmhurst committed four errors in game one.

Senior Mackenzie Maquis (3-1) redeemed herself in the circle on Saturday pitching a complete game shutout. Marquis allowed three hits and one walk while striking out two batters.

Elmhurst held the Titans scoreless through four innings before Murphy was able to break through and drive in two on a single to left. Berghoff extended the Titans lead to three with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning. Sophomore Mia Massaro, Runyon, and Murphy all finished with two-hit games in game two.

Runyon stole three bases in total over the two games on Saturday to increase her season total to 19.

What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan postpones conference play for doubleheader against Lake Forest College on Wednesday, April 4. First pitch for game one is set for 3 p.m. from Lake Forest, Ill. The Foresters are currently 13-7 on the season with a 4-2 record at home.