ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The Illinois Wesleyan University softball team begins its NCAA Division III Tournament journey Friday, May 13, in the Saint Joseph Regional hosted by the College of Saint Benedict. Illinois Wesleyan will face Wartburg College Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. in the first game of the regional.
    The Titans enter the postseason with a 27-13 overall record. Illinois Wesleyan topped North Central College, 3-2, in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament Championship en route to a postseason appearance. Wartburg rolls into the NCAA Tournament with a 27-12 mark, having most recently dropped a 5-4 affair to Nebraska Wesleyan in the American Rivers Conference Tournament Championship, May 7. NWU, who is also in this weekend's regional pod, holds a 22-14 record. The Bennies own the best record of the pod, owning a 28-8 mark.
 
THE ROAD TO ST. BEN'S: The Titans path to this weekend's Saint Joseph Regional came by virtue of an automatic bid as the Green and White won three in-a-row to claim the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament title. The tournament championship is IWU's 15th in program history, and the program's first since 2019.
 
IWU AGAINST THE FIELD: Illinois Wesleyan played one of the more difficult schedules in all of Division III this season, boasting a 619 strength of schedule which ranked second-highest in the nation. In fact, IWU has played 10 of the other 61 teams in this year's national tournament, compiling a 6-10 record against the competition.
 
A LOOK AT THE ALL-TIME LEDGER: IWU has very little familiarity with the three other teams making up this weekend's regional, evident by a 1-0 record against this weekend's competition all-time. Illinois Wesleyan and Wartburg have a limited history, meeting just once previously. The lone meeting took place in St. Louis, Mo. March 26, 2005, and saw the Titans come out victorious, 3-2.
 
POSTSEASON PAST: The Titans are no stranger to the postseason, as this weekend will mark Illinois Wesleyan's 19th appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament. IWU owns a 53-41 record in the postseason all-time, good for a .564 winning percentage. Illinois Wesleyan has made five World Series appearances (2003, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), including a runner-up finish in 2018.
 
STEPPING IN, AND STEPPING UP: Since being thrust into the starting catcher role, sophomore Hope Yeoman has stepped up for the Titans. The Lafayette, Ind. native is hitting .346 over the last 10 games since assuming the starting job in game two of a doubleheader, April 26. Yeoman has seemingly found her stride as the everyday starter. Defensively, she has also been solid. Yeoman has made several key plays behind the plate, and has thrown out several baserunners.
 
COLLEEN, COLLEEN, COLLEEEEEEEN: Senior Colleen Palczynski headlined the CCIW postseason awards following the conclusion of the regular season, as the Mt. Prospect, Ill. native was named the CCIW's Hitter of the Year for the second consecutive season. The missile-hitting third baseman has torched opposing pitching this season, smashing nine homeruns on a .598 slugging clip and .316 batting average.  
 
ALL-CONFERENCE NODS: Illinois Wesleyan had six players selected to the All-CCIW teams, May 5. Colleen Palczynski, Hayley Earl, and Bailey Turner were First Team All-CCIW selections, while Jen Kuhn, Natalie Grubczak, and Nina Mardjetko garnered Second Team All-CCIW honors. It marked the most honors for IWU since seven players reeled in all-conference accolades in 2018.
 
YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD…. YES!: The Titans have put together a solid offensive season thus far, boasting third-best team batting average in the CCIW. Illinois Wesleyan's power numbers have been even better, as IWU has hammered a CCIW-best 36 homeruns. The mark ranks ninth across all Division III, while the Green and White is slugging .469.
    Individually, eight different Titans have hit a homerun this season. Three players ranked inside the nation's top-80, as Colleen Palczynski's nine are slotted 34th. Ava Khoury is 51st and Jen Kuhn is 78th, with eight and seven, respectively.
 
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS: Illinois Wesleyan's defensive has been solid all season, but has taken it up a notch over the last month or so. IWU has compiled a team fielding percentage of .970, the 19th-best in Division III and the top in the CCIW, this season. Additionally, the middle infield combo of Jen Kuhn and Bailey Turner have been key in IWU's ability to turn double plays this season. Illinois Wesleyan has turned a CCIW-best 14 DPs this season, the 49th most in Division III.
 
HOMEGROWN: The Green and White's roster features players from four states, all of which border Illinois. IWU's roster, which is made up of 15 Illinois natives, also includes three players from Missouri, two from Indiana, and one from Wisconsin. Additionally, the Titans have found success right in their backyard, as four players call the Bloomington-Normal area home.
 
INSPIRATION FIELD: Illinois Wesleyan's home field, Inspiration Field at Carol Willis Park, will host the 2025 NCAA Division III National Championship. The Bloomington, Ill. complex garnered hosting duties thanks to an accepted bid by the NCAA in 2020.