NCAA Division III Final Bracket   |   NCAA D-III Softball Website

2018 NCAA Division III Softball Finals Website (includes ticket information)
 
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- The No. 6-seeded Illinois Wesleyan softball team defeated No. 2-seed UT Tyler by a final score of 3-2 in 10 innings in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Division III Softball National Championships on Saturday, May 26. With a win, the Titans advanced to the round of four and will need one win on Sunday to advance to the National Championship series.
 
Sophomore Shelby Fulk delivered the game winning single in the bottom of the tenth inning to score junior Jillian Runyon from third. Runyon opened the hitting for IWU in the tenth with a single alongside a subsequent steal of second base. Sophomore Sydney Alery reached on an error and sophomore Sam Berghoff walked to set up a one-out bases loaded situation for Fulk.
 
Illinois Wesleyan improved their record to 38-11-1 on the season following Saturday's game. UT Tyler fell to 44-4 and must make their way through the loser's bracket to have a chance at the title. IWU's next opponent at 2:30 p.m. Sunday will be Luther College (41-10), a 7-6 winner over Case Western Reserve Saturday night. Go here for links to live streaming and stats.
 
This is the furthest an Illinois Wesleyan softball team has advanced in the National Championships since the 2003 team placed third. For a complete list of Illinois Wesleyan softball postseason results go here.
 
Sophomore Brea Walker (12-4) was the winning pitcher for Illinois Wesleyan pitching two scoreless innings of relief. Starting pitcher, sophomore Ally Wiegand, threw 127 pitches through eight innings, allowing eight hits, two earned runs, and a walk, while striking out 10 batters. IWU forced UT Tyler into using three pitchers with Miranda Leal (5-1) allowing the game-winning hit In the tenth.
 
Illinois Wesleyan tallied first despite being down two outs early. Berghoff opened the hitting for IWU with a standing double to centerfield before Fulk plated her in the next at-bat with a single through the left side. The Titans chased Patriot starting pitcher Colleen Bentke from the game after just four batters, forcing Whitney Romero into action for UT Tyler. Romero turned in a solid performance in the circle, sending down 11 straight at one point in her outing.
 
Wiegand opened the second frame by sending each of UT Tyler's first two batters down swinging on strikes, a rarity in the Patriot line-up. IWU had an opportunity to extend their lead in the second following a double from sophomore Kara Bischoff and an infield single by way of sophomore Courtney Barrett, but a pop-out ended the Titans threat.
 
IWU faced a bit of adversity in the third as UT Tyler advanced Kailey Henderson to third on a pair of grounders. Wiegand shut down the threat by inducing Ashley Perez into a weak pop-up at second base to end the inning.
 
UT Tyler's Nicole Garcia found her way to second base with her second double of the game in the fifth, but a jumping grab by Berghoff stole a base hit from Victoria Gonzales to end UT Tyler's half.
 
The Patriots tied the game at one in the top of the sixth after Ashley Perez led off the inning with her 19th home run of the season. Berghoff's second double of the game gave the Titans a runner in scoring position in the home half, but IWU was unable to retake the lead.
 
A two-out blunder at first base allowed for the Patriots to take a 2-1 lead over the Titans in the seventh, but a lead-off home run in the bottom half from junior Julie Josten (8) tied the game at two to send the game into extra innings.
 
In extras, Illinois Wesleyan nearly walked-off in the ninth with two runners on base, but an inning-ending double play saw senior Stephanie Prentice thrown out on a close play at the plate.