TUCSON, Ariz.- A solo shot by senior Sam Berghoff (Chicago, Ill.-Whitney Young HS) in game one allowed her to become the IWU career home run leader Saturday, March 7 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, while senior Ally Wiegand's (Downs, Ill.-Downs-Tri-Valley) no-hitter propelled the Titans to a 4-0 victory against Emory & Henry. Wiegand tied Christy Engel for the most no-hitters by a Titan since the 2005 season with three career no-nos. The No. 5 Illinois Wesleyan upset No. 2 Christopher Newport University in a 7-1 win in game two. 

Sophomore Hayley Earl (Washington, Ill.-Washington) was named to the NFCA Leadoff Classic All-Tournament team.

Game One: Illinois Wesleyan 4, Emory & Henry 0
Berghoff bested Emma Clark's previous IWU career record with her 33rd homerun against the Wasps. The record-setting bomb put the Titans to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. After a walk by senior Mia Massaro (Homer Glen, Ill.-Providence Catholic) and another walk by junior Lexy Trammell (Peoria, Ill.-Limestone) put runners in scoring position, senior Shelby Fulk (El Paso, Ill.-El Paso-Gridley) roped in Massaro to push IWU ahead 2-0. 

Junior Hannah Heraty (Libertyville, Ill.-Libertyville) led off the top of the fourth with a single through the left side, while senior Brittany Murphy (Canton, Ill.-Canton) advanced her to scoring position on a singled bunt. Berghoff's patience in the box allowed her to take first, loading the bases for Massaro. Massaro's grounder to short provided a 3-0 advantage, as an error came around to score an unearned run.

The Titans added an insurance run in the fifth to take a 4-0 lead. Fulk drew a lead off single chopper to third before Trammell executed a bunt to move Fulk. Hearty put a tough fight in the box to win over a single through the left side, advancing to second on a throw. With runners at second and third, Murphy singled to cross Fulk. 

Senior Ally Wiegand (Downs, Ill.-Downs-Tri-Valley) threw a seven-inning no-hit shutout for the second time this season, recording 13 strikeouts and improving to 2-1. Two Titans went 2-4 at the plate featuring Fulk and Hearty, while Murphy knocked a solid 2-3. Collectively, IWU had a 9 hit advantage to E&U's 0.

Game Two: No. 5 Illinois Wesleyan 7, No. 2 Christopher Newport 1 
On the mound, senior Brea Walker (Gibson City, Ill.-GCMS) tossed seven innings, setting a season-high of nine strikeouts, and allowed just six hits. She improves to a perfect 3-0 record.

IWU got an early lead when Berghoff reached on a fielding error, followed by a hit by pitch on freshman Nora Adams (Chesterfield, Mo.-Nerinx Hall HS). The on fire sophomore Hayley Earl came through with a two-out, three-run bomb to left field to score Berghoff and Adams, pushing the Titans to a 3-0 lead.

The Titans rallied for one more run in the bottom of the second when Heraty rocketed a one-out left side double to kick off the inning. With two outs, Berghoff's bat came around for an RBI single to right center, crossing Heraty at the plate. 

Three more runs extended the Titans' lead in the bottom of the third courtesy of RBI hits from Trammell and Hearty. With two runners in scoring position, Trammell shot a liner in the right side gap to score Earl and Fulk, while advancing to third on an overthrow. A new pitcher entered the circle for the Captains, but Hearty's heat brought in Trammel from third with a single shot to right.

IWU returns to the field Sunday, March 8 to wrap up the NFCA Leadoff Classic. The Titans will battle with Berry at 11 a.m. MT, followed by a 1:30 p.m. MT game with St. Benedict. An off day on Monday leads the Illinois Wesleyan softball team into a four game Tucson Invitational Tuesday and Wednesday, March 10-11.