Illinois Wesleyan vs. LeTourneau | Jan Gentry Classic | Marshall, Texas

East Texas Baptist Athletics

Softball Readies for Final Stop on Season-Opening Road Trip

Titans sit at 4-10 on the season

3/22/2023 5:35:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University softball team returns to competition Thursday, March 23, for the final stop of the team's season-opening 16-game road trip. The Titans will play a doubleheader at Monmouth College with hopes of snapping a six-game skid beginning with a 3 p.m. first pitch.

Both teams head into Thursday's twin bill following spring break trips to warmer temperatures. The Green and White completed an eight-game slate in Texas, March 12-16, and sit at 4-10 on the season. Meanwhile, Monmouth is 5-7 after splitting eight games at The Spring Games in Auburndale, Fla., March 6-10.

Illinois Wesleyan and Monmouth have met 42 times ahead of Thursday, with IWU maintaining a stronghold on the all-time tally, 37-5. The Titans have won 17 straight against the Scots, including sweeping last season's twin bill by scores of 6-5 and 8-0.

Offensively, senior center fielder Madison Moore (Verona, Wis.-Edgewood) has led the Titans with 14 hits on the season. Sophomore Ava Khoury (Columbia, Ill.-Columbia) tops the squad with eight RBIs and three homers, while freshman Claire Post (Normal, Ill.-Normal West) has driven in five with two round-trippers. Post is tied for second on the team in RBI alongside juniors Priscilla Peek (Deer Creek, Ill.-Peoria Notre Dame) and Megan Fontanetta (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Buffalo Grove). A consistent lefty in the IWU lineup, junior Maya Black (Springfield, Ill.-Glenwood) holds the best on-base percentage of the team, aided by team-highs of six walks and three HBPs.

Senior Nina Mardjetko (Lemont, Ill.-Lemont) has led IWU's efforts in the circle with a 1.84 earned run average over 10 appearances. Mardjetko has tossed a team-best 45.2 innings, while also pacing Illinois Wesleyan in wins (3), complete games (4), strikeouts (25), and opposing batting average (.190). The senior hurler is one of four arms the Titans have seen log innings this season.

First pitch of Thursday's double feature is scheduled for 3 p.m. in Monmouth, Ill. Links to live stats and live streams of each game can be found on the softball schedule page of iwusports.com.

Print Friendly Version