Press Conference

ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The Illinois Wesleyan University softball team could not overcome Wartburg College's big first inning in NCAA Regional play Friday, May 13, on the campus of the College of Saint Benedict. With the loss, Illinois Wesleyan (27-14) will play in tomorrow's elimination game at 2:30 p.m.
 
The Titans appeared poised to jump on top early, as freshman Jen Kuhn (Normal. Ill.-University High) led things off with a single and moved to second on a well-executed bunt. Junior Madison Moore (Verona, Wis.-Edgewood) walked, but a liner was snagged and the Knights thwarted the threat with a double play.
 
After holding the Titans scoreless, Wartburg pounced for four runs on four hits and an error. A leadoff double was followed by a pair of one-out singles and a wild pitch, pushing WC ahead, 2-0. A two-out RBI rip, paired with an error doubled the Knights' lead, 4-0, into the second.
 
The Green and White cut the deficit in half in the third, as IWU capitalized on a pair of base knocks. Sophomore Megan Fontanetta (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Buffalo Grove) blooped a one-out single to right. A wild pitch and a walk by Moore, her second of the day, brought senior Colleen Palczynski (Mt. Prospect, Ill.-Prospect) to the plate with one away. The senior belted a run-scoring single to center before freshman Ava Khoury's (Columbia, Ill.-Columbia) sacrifice fly pulled Illinois Wesleyan within two, 4-2.
 
IWU stranded two in the fifth, and Wartburg tacked on an insurance run in the sixth to take the game by a final score of 5-2.

The Titans were outhit, 10-6, with Kuhn and Palczynski picking up two hits apiece.
 
Junior Natalie Grubczak (Medinah, Ill.-Lake Park) was sacked with the loss, despite a quality appearance. She struck out three and walked none over six innings of work, allowing just three earned runs.
 
Illinois Wesleyan will fight to keep its season alive tomorrow, May 14, in a 2:30 p.m. elimination game.