NCAA Division III Softball Finals Website
NCAA D-III Softball Page
TYLER, Texas – The Illinois Wesleyan softball team struck early with three first inning runs and held off Randolph Macon College for a 5-3 win in an elimination game on Friday, May 24, at the 2019 NCAA Division III Softball Championships in Tyler, Texas.
Illinois Wesleyan (39-9) will play next in another elimination game on Saturday, May 25, at 3:30 p.m. against Eastern Connecticut State (35-12), who lost a 7-6 decision to Texas Lutheran (37-8) on Friday night.
Postgame Interview |
Photo Gallery, May 24 (
Matt Kinney photos)
The top of the order (first three hitters) went seven-for-10 in the game and scored all five of IWU's runs.
Senior centerfielder
Jillian Runyon, who finished with three hits, a walk and two stolen bases, singled to lead off the game and went to third on a double by junior rightfielder
Mia Massaro. Both runner came home on a single by junior shortstop
Sam Berghoff, who also scored on the same play as a result of a Yellow Jackets error.
IWU tacked on two more runs in the fifth. With one out, Runyon singled and stole second before Massaro delivered an RBI single to right. Berghoff's single moved Massaro to second base. Junior leftfielder
Brittany Murphy provided a single to chase home Massaro and stake the Titans to a 5-2 lead.
Junior winning pitcher
Brea Walker (15-4), in relief of starter
Ally Wiegand, pitched five innings and allowed one run on five hits with two strikeouts. Wiegand went the first two frames and allowed two runs on four hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
For the Yellow Jackets, Candace Whittemore (20-10) struck out four and allowed nine hits in the complete game and leadoff hitter Kerstin Roth had two hits with a double and two runs batted in.
TITAN NOTES: The Titans and Eastern Connecticut State last met on March 13, 2016 in the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. The Titans won, 8-2, as freshman Jillian Runyon had three hits including a home run to lead off the game and scored three runs. Freshman third baseman Julie Josten scored two runs ... Two other Titan teams have reached the 39 win plateau - in 2001 (39-14) and 2012 (39-8). Only two other IWU teams have achieved more than 39 wins. The 2018 team was 40-14 and the 2014 team went 41-7 ... This year's pitching staff has 18 shutouts, tying the school record set in 2009 ... One more pitching appearance by Ally Wiegand will give her 34, tying Mackenzie Marquis's 2017 record. Wiegand's 22 complete games is a school season record ... Her next game will be the 200th of Josten's career, a school record ... Illinois Wesleyan has a 53-39 record in 18 NCAA Division III appearances ...
