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Megan Fantennetta Fielding
3
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 1-4
0
CMS CMS 6-7
Winner
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
1-4
3
Final
0
CMS CMS
6-7
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 9 0
CMS CMS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1

W: Turner, Bailey (1-0) L: Johnson, Jade (3-2)

4
Winner Belhaven BU 12-1
2
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 1-5
Winner
Belhaven BU
12-1
4
Final
2
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
1-5
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Belhaven BU 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 4 11 0
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 5 0

W: G. Baucom (2-1) L: Mardjetko, Nina (0-3)

Game Recap: Softball |

Softball Blanks CMS on Final Day of NFCA Leadoff Classic

Fontanetta named to NFCA All-Tournament Team

COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Illinois Wesleyan University softball team wrapped up play in the invite-only NFCA Leadoff Classic, March 6, in Columbus, Ga. The Titans (1-5) shutout Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in game one, earning the team's first victory of the young 2022 campaign, 3-0, before falling to No. 18 Belhaven University, 4-2.

After the completion of the tournament, sophomore Megan Fontanetta (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Buffalo Grove) was named to the NFCA All-Tournament Team after posting a .389 batting average, notching seven hits, two RBI's, and scoring one run. 

Game One: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 0, Illinois Wesleyan 3
In the top of the opening frame, junior Madison Moore (Verona, Wis.-Edgewood) notched a leadoff single to left field. Fontanetta executed a perfect bunt, which caused the Athenas to throw the ball into right field. A tactical call by head coach Tiffany Prager put the runners in motion, allowing Moore to score. While Fontanetta was tagged out causing havoc on the basepaths, IWU manufactured a 1-0 advantage. 

With CMS threatening in the bottom of the first with runners on second and third and no one out, sophomore Bailey Turner (Normal, Ill.-Normal Community West) pitched out of an early jam, causing two foul ball outs and a fly ball to center to eliminate the threat to keep the IWU advantage intact.

The score remained unchanged heading into the sixth inning, 1-0 Titans. Both teams were able to generate four hits apiece through five innings of play.

IWU's offense sprung for four hits in the top of the sixth. Turner helped herself out as she scorched a line drive single to left field, bringing home senior Colleen Palczynski (Mt. Prospect, Ill.-Prospect). In her first collegiate at bat, freshman Alison Kern (Normal, Ill.-Normal Community) delivered off the bench for the Green and White, lacing a single up the middle as senior Hayley Earl (Washington, Ill.-Washington) crossed the plate to open up the 3-0 lead.

Turner threw a gem for IWU in the circle, dominating all seven frames en route to notching her first win on the season (1-0). She struck out three while only allowing four hits as she tossed the first shutout of her career.

Illinois Wesleyan strung together 10 hits, led by a 3-for-4 effort by Moore. Fontanetta notched two hits in the Titans victory.

Game Two: Belhaven 4, Illinois Wesleyan 2
Belhaven got on the board early to jump out in front, 1-0, in the first. IWU's defense cut down a runner trying to score at the plate to prevent further damage.

The Green and White took matters into their own hands, tying the contest at one all in the bottom of the first as Palczynski tripled to right, scoring Moore. 

The Blazers tacked on another run in the top of the third to retake the lead, 2-1

Fontanetta continued her scorching afternoon at the plate, driving in junior Erica Barker (Linton, Ind.-Linton-Stockton) with a crucial two-out RBI, to knot the score at two heading into the fourth. 

With a close back-and-forth affair, BU took the lead back in the top of the fifth, creating a 3-2 cushion. A couple of two out hits for the Blazers pushed the lead to 4-2, after six and a half innings of play.

Belhaven would go on to win, 4-2. The Blazers accumulated 11 hits, compared to IWU's five. Moore's offensive success continued as she topped the team with two hits.

Junior Nina Mardjetko (Lemont, Ill.-Lemont) threw a complete game, but took the loss (0-3) for the Green and White. She only allowed one walk and struck out one as the defense turned in a stellar performance.

The Titans will make the trek back to the midwest for their next scheduled action as the team will travel to take on Lake Forest College, in Lake Forest, Ill., Tuesday, March 15 for a twin bill. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.

 
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