KENOSHA, Wis. - The Illinois Wesleyan University softball team completed the season sweep of Carthage College with wins of 4-0 and 3-2 Saturday, April 17. The Titans jumped to 16-8 overall, 13-5 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin with the sweep, while the Firebirds dipped to 10-10 and 8-8 in CCIW play.

Game One: Illinois Wesleyan 4, Carthage 0
A complete game shutout from junior Madie Monk (Manteno, Ill.-Manteno) fueled the Titans to the series-clinching win in game one. Monk went the distance, allowing five hits, and struck out five.

Illinois Wesleyan finished with six hits, fueled by a 2-for-4 performance from junior Hayley Earl (Washington, Ill.-Washington). The junior catcher belted a home run to finish with two RBIs and a run scored, while IWU's other hits were spread among four players.

The Titans gave Monk a 2-0 lead before she even took the mound. Fontanetta drew a one-out walk and Earl smashed her second round-tripper of the year to put Illinois Wesleyan up after just one half inning. 

Illinois Wesleyan doubled its lead in the fourth. Senior Hannah Heraty (Libertyville, Ill.-Libertyville) drew a leadoff walk and freshman Bailey Turner (Normal, Ill.-Normal West) followed with a bunt single in the top of the fourth. Then, with two outs, sophomore Madison Moore (Verona, Ill.-Edgewood) split the gap in left-center for a two-run double to put IWU in front, 4-0.

Monk took it from there, retiring nine of the next 12 batters she faced, closing out the 4-0 road win.

Game Two: Carthage 2, Illinois Wesleyan 3
Sophomore Nina Mardjetko (Lemont, Ill.-Lemont) picked up the win with some help from the rest of the staff in game two. Mardjetko tossed the first 5.2 innings, striking out five, while Monk and sophomore Natalie Grubczak (Medinah, Ill.-Lake Park) held things together in relief.

The Titans outhit the Firebirds 8-7 in game two, with two players picking up multiple hits. Junior Colleen Palczynski (Mt. Prospect, Ill.-Prospect) and senior Lexy Trammell (Peoria, Ill.-Limestone) each went 2-for-3 to pace IWU offensively. Palczynski finished with two RBI, while Trammell added a run scored.

Illinois Wesleyan did all of its damage in the second inning, springing for three runs on five hits. Trammell got things going with a single and then swipe second to move into scoring position for senior Toni Tortorella (Park Ridge, Ill.-Maine South). The senior DP ripped a single up the middle to bring in the game's first run and scooted into second on a passed ball. An infield single by Moore kept the inning rolling, before Earl's single loaded the bases for Palczynski with two outs. Up for the challenge, the reigning CCIW Offensive Player of the Week singled to left to score two and up the IWU advantage to 3-0.

After scoring a run in the fourth, the Firebirds made things interesting in the later innings. Carthage capitalized on a leadoff single in the sixth to pull within one, but Monk escaped the jam with back-to-back groundouts, stranding two.

In the seventh, an error and a single gave Carthage new life with Illinois Wesleyan holding a slim 3-2 lead. Grubczak entered in relief, inheriting runners on second and third, and quickly closed out the win with a strikeout to complete the Titans' four-game sweep of the Firebirds.

The Titans remain in Wisconsin for a doubleheader at Carroll University tomorrow, April 18. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.