GREENCASTLE, Ind. - The Illinois Wesleyan University softball team used a game one victory to win a three-game season series with DePauw University Wednesday, May 3, in Greencastle, Ind. After defeating the Tigers (16-19) just over a month ago in Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan (23-14) edged DePauw, 3-2, in game one of a doubleheader. The series finale saw sophomore Ava Khoury (Columbia, Ill.-Columbia) tie the program's single season homerun record, but IWU fell by a final score of 8-2.

Game One: Illinois Wesleyan 3, DePauw 2
A scoreless game was broken up in the fifth as IWU plated three runs on four hits. Freshman Casey Wissmiller (Bloomington, Ill.-Olympia) singled up the middle and was bunted over to second. Sophomore Jen Kuhn (Normal, Ill.-University High) doubled to center to bring home the game's first run. After junior Maya Black (Springfield, Ill.-Glenwood) doubled, DePauw went to the bullpen. Senior Madison Moore (Verona, Wis.-Edgewood) came throught with a two-run single that saw both Kuhn and Black cross the plate, capping a three-run frame. 

DePauw got a run back in the fifth and another in the sixth, but freshman Caroline Gatchell (Grayslake, Ill.-Carmel Catholic) entered in relief and tamed the Tigers. The freshman lefty threw two hitless innings to preserve the 3-2 win and pick up a save.

Freshman Gianna Certa (Third Lake, Ill.-Grayslake North) made the start in the circle, striking out one over three innings, while allowing just two hits. She was credited with the win, boosting her record to 2-3 on the year.

Offensively, IWU matched DU hit-for-hit as each team finished with six. Black put together a 2-for-4 outing with a run scored, while Moore went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two walks. 

Game Two: Illinois Wesleyan 2, DePauw 8
DePauw struck first in game two, doing so without recording a hit as a hit by pitch came around to score. The Tigers used a ground ball to the left side to move ahead, 1-0, after the opening inning.

Illinois Wesleyan's first two hits came courtesy of Black, who singled in the first and third innings. Her base knock in the third came on the heels of a walk by Kuhn, putting two on with one out for Moore. After a wild pitch put a pair in scoring position, Moore hit a sacrifice fly to right to level the score at one. 

Trailing 3-1, the Titans appeared in prime position to score in the fourth. Singles by senior Ambria May (Shorewood, Ill.-Joliet West) and junior Priscilla Peek (Deer Creek, Ill.-Peoria Notre Dame) had runners on second and third, but a pair of strikeouts kept the Green and White from capitalizing.

DePauw tacked on a run in the fourth to expand its lead to 4-1 into the fifth, where Khoury clubbed a leadoff homer to center. With the blast, her 15th of the season, Khoury tied the program's single season record previously set by Colleen Palczynski in 2021. 

DePauw plated four runs on five hits in the sixth, to keep IWU at bay and end the day with a sweep as the Tigers took game two, 8-2.

It was a by committee approach in the circle in game two, as Illinois Wesleyan used three different arms in the night cap. Senior Nina Mardjetko (Lemont, Ill.-Lemont) tossed the first three innings and was sacked with the loss. She struck out three and walked none. Certa and Gatchell each ate up innings in relief.

Black highlighted the offense with a 2-for-3 effort, while Khoury and Moore were credited with one RBI apiece. 

The regular season wraps up for Illinois Wesleyan Saturday, May 6, as the Green and White host Augustana College in a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Inspiration Field.