NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University softball team swept the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin's weekly softball awards Tuesday, March 29, as junior Madison Moore (Verona, Wis.-Edgewood) and sophomore Bailey Turner (Normal, Ill.-Normal West) were named the conference's hitter and pitcher of the week, respectively. 

Tuesday's announcement marks the first weekly awards for IWU this season, as well as the first in the careers of Moore and Turner. It is also Illinois Wesleyan's first time sweeping the awards since April 13, 2021 when Colleen Palczynski and Nina Mardjetko received the weekly accolades. Additionally, it marks the seventh consecutive season in which IWU has swept the CCIW's weekly athlete of the week honors as the Green and White have done so in every season dating back to 2016.

Together, the duo led the Titans to a 4-0 record, March 25-28, that included doubleheader sweeps of Monmouth College and Illinois College.

Moore, who has been one of IWU's most consistent hitters this season, went 7-for-14 with three runs scored and two RBIs over the four-game span. She hit a hefty .500 at the plate, while boating an on-base percentage of .533 to go along with a .643 slugging percentage. Moore tied for the team lead with seven hits, including a triple. 

The Verona, Wis. native began the week with a 1-for-2 effort in IWU's run-rule win over Monmouth, March 25, where she scored two runs and walked once. Moore followed by going 2-for-4 in the second game of the twin bill and scoring a run. In Illinois Wesleyan's doubleheader sweep of Illinois College, Moore went 3-for-5 in the first game and 1-for-3 in the second. 

For the season, Moore now ranks second in the CCIW in triples, tied for fifth in walks, and tied for eighth in hits.

In the circle, Turner was exceptional for the Green and White. The Normal, Ill. native tossed the second complete game shutout of her career as she led IWU to a 1-0 win at IC, March 28. Turner finished with three strikeouts, while allowing just four hits, and held the Lady Blues to a .167 batting average. She led an IWU pitching staff that boasted a 1.62 earned run average of the four-game span.

In addition to her strong pitching, Turner proved why she's one of the top defensive pitchers in the country with several diving grabs from the circle. The sophomore laid out to grab a pop-up bunt with the tying run on third before snagging a sure-single from reaching past her for another out.

Turner, who also notched a hit in IWU's 3-1 win at IC, recorded three putouts and 11 assists with a 1.000 fielding percentage in the four games. For the season she ranks sixth in the conference with fewest runs allowed and third with fewest walks allowed.

Illinois Wesleyan's annual home tournament returns after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 when the Titans host the IWU Tournament Saturday-Sunday, April 2-3, at Inspiration Field. The Titans will welcome the University of Chicago, Illinois College, and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to Bloomington for the two-day tourney.