Kodiak Creative

Eight Games Await Softball at Jan Gentry Classic

Titans to play Centenary Sunday, March 12

3/10/2023 4:00:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Spring break sees the Illinois Wesleyan University softball team trek south for eight games over a five-day span, beginning Sunday, March 12, with a twin bill at Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport, La. From there, IWU continues to Marshall, Texas for the remainder of games at the Jan Gentry Classic hosted by East Texas Baptist University.

The Titans will square off with LeTourneau University Monday, March 13, with a 4 p.m. first pitch. After a day off, the Green and White returns to action against No. 18 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Wednesday, March 15, at 12 p.m. Illinois Wesleyan's trip comes to a close versus tournament host and 13th-ranked ETBU, Thursday, March 16, with game one set for 12 p.m.

IWU motors into the eight-game stretch on the heels of two wins over 23rd-ranked Washington University in St. Louis, March 4-5. The Titans went 2-2 at WashU's invite, dropping a pair of games to Coe College.

Illinois Wesleyan's showing in St. Louis saw senior Nina Mardjetko (Lemont, Ill.-Lemont) and sophomore Ava Khoury (Columbia, Ill.-Columbia) sweep the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin weekly accolades, March 6. Mardjetko was tabbed the league's Pitcher of the Week following a 2-0 weekend that saw her go without yielding an earned run, while Khoury clubbed two homers to snag Hitter of the Week honors.

Of IWU's four spring break opponents, the Titans have history with just one of them, albeit limited. The Green and White have never played Centenary, LeTourneau, or UMHB, but have met ETBU once previously. The Tigers took down the Titans, 9-4, in the lone meeting, which came March 14, 2004 in LaGrange, Ga.

The Green and White offense has been led by four players that are boasting averages of .290 or better. Junior Maya Black (Springfield, Ill.-Glenwood) leads the team with a .357 average. She also leads the team with three doubles and is tied for the team lead with three walks. Senior Madison Moore (Verona, Wis.-Edgewood) is hitting at a .353 clip and is tied with junior Bailey Turner (Normal, Ill.-Normal West) for the team lead with six hits. Turner is hitting .333 on the season, with Khoury coming in at .294. The Titans' cleanup hitter, Khoury, has two homers on the season and five RBIs, both of which top the team.

In the circle, Mardjetko has seemingly found her stride. She holds a 2-2 record on the season with a team-best 1.56 earned run average. The Lemont, Ill. native has fanned 11 and is holding opponents to a .159 batting average, while allowing 10 hits over 18 innings of work. Freshman Gianna Certa (Third Lake, Ill.-Grayslake North) and senior Natalie Grubczak (Medinah, Ill.-Lake Park) have rounded out the rotation of arms. Certa has made two appearances, including one start, while Grubczak has started all three of her appearances.

Illinois Wesleyan's eight-game spring break trip can be followed via live stats or live stream, using the links found on the softball schedule page of iwusports.com.

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