The Illinois Wesleyan University softball team split a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin doubleheader with Carroll University Saturday, April 16, at Inspiration Field. The Titans (17-10, 5-1 CCIW) took game one, 8-0, in five innings, but the Pioneers (14-8, 6-2 CCIW) took game two, 6-3.

Nick Helten

Softball Set for Six CCIW Games in Three Days

Titans to play half of CCIW season over five days

4/25/2022 12:57:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - In large part due to the spring weather that has hit the Bloomington area over the past few weeks, the Illinois Wesleyan University softball team will see the regular season come to a close with eight College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin games over five days. The stretch starts with three straight days of doubleheaders, beginning Tuesday, April 26, with a twin bill against league-leading Millikin University. IWU then hosts North Park University Wednesday, April 27, before traveling to North Central College Thursday, April 28.

The Titans, who will play half of their CCIW schedule over a five-day span, enter the week with an 18-11 overall record and sit at 6-2 in the league standings. IWU most recently split a home doubleheader with Carthage, April 23. Junior Nina Mardjetko (Lemont, Ill.-Lemont) tossed a no-hitter to fuel Illinois Wesleyan to a 4-0 victory in game two.

Millikin, the current CCIW front runners, is ranked No. 22 in the NFCA Top-25 with a 26-4 mark and hold an 8-2 record in CCIW games. The Big Blue have won six straight, most recently overpowering Carroll 8-0 and 9-0 in a doubleheader sweep, April 23.

North Park is 12-16 on the season and looks to return to the diamond for the first time since splitting a double feature against Carthage, April 19. North Park won game one, 3-0, before dropping the nightcap, 4-2, to stumble to 4-8 in conference play.

The Cardinals saw their four-game win streak snapped with a 4-3 loss to Augustana, April 23, to put North Central's record at 20-7, 10-4 in the CCIW heading into this week. NCC will host UW-Whitewater for a non-conference doubleheader today, April 25, before hosting IWU on Thursday.

Against North Park, the Green and White holds a commanding 50-0 lead, having won every meeting since defeating the Vikings, 7-3, April 9, 1997. The Titans escaped Chicago with a sweep last season, as IWU won two against NPU, April 25, 2021. Illinois Wesleyan used a five-run ninth-inning to edge the Vikings, 7-2, in extra innings. The Titans then held off a late NPU push to win game two, 8-5.

IWU and NCC have a lengthy history that has seen the Titans lead the all-time tally 40-30. Since falling in both ends of a doubleheader against NCC, April 27, Illinois Wesleyan has gone on to win three in-a-row against North Central.

First pitch of Tuesday's twin bill against the Big Blue is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Inspiration Field. Wednesday's games against NPU will also begin at 3 p.m. on IWU's home field. Rounding out the midweek frenzy, Thursday's roadtrip to NCC will get underway with a 3 p.m. start.

Links for live stats and available live streams for the games can be found on the softball schedule page of IWUsports.com.

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