BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University softball team will play seven games in four days at the NFCA Leadoff Classic Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 29-March 1, in Columbus, Ga. The top-tier tournament saw its schedule altered as a result of weather, which led to the tournament kicking off a day earlier.
IWU will begin its trip against Belhaven Thursday, Feb. 29, at 6 p.m. The Titans battle Transylvania and Mary Hardin-Baylor Friday, March 1, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively. Saturday pits the Green and White against Christopher Newport and Chapman, before Illinois Wesleyan wraps up the weekend Sunday, March 3, versus Wartburg and Berry.
The Titans travel south following an opening split at Centre College, Feb. 24. IWU took down CC, 10-2, in five innings in the opener before falling, 5-3, in game two.Â
Senior Bailey Turner (Normal, Ill.-Normal West) is amid a strong return to the circle, where she has thrown three scoreless innings this season. Sophomore Caroline Gatchell (Grayslake, Ill.-Carmel Catholic) leads IWU with four strikeouts, while freshman Mallory Holland (Shelbyville, Ill.-Shelbyville) has held opponents to a team-best .158 average.
At the plate, Illinois Wesleyan is hitting a hefty .346 as a team, with six players hitting over .400 individually. Freshman JD Dowling (Roselle, Ill.-Lake Park) leads the Titans with a .600 average with three hits in five at bats. Sophomore Casey Wissmiller (Bloominton, Ill.-Olympia), junior Jen Kuhn (Normal, Ill.-University High), and freshman Elyssa Stenger (Bloomington, Ill.-Central Catholic) are all hitting .500 on the year. The trio also paces the squad with two RBIs apiece. Wissmiller along with freshman Hailey Milgazo (Poway, Calif.-Poway) have swiped two bases each, while Milgazo holds a .429 average.
A full tournament schedule can be found here. Live stats and a free live stream will be provided.
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Tickets
- Daily (Adult) - $15 | Daily (Military) - $10
- Weekend Pass (Adult) - $40
- Children eight (8) and under - FREE
- Purchase Tickets HERE
Participating Teams: Babson, Belhaven, Berry, Bethel, Case Western Reserve, Central, Chapman, Christopher Newport, Concordia (Wis.), DePauw, East Texas Baptist, Illinois Wesleyan, Linfield, Mary Hardin-Baylor, Moravian, Piedmont, Roanoke, Saint Benedict, Transylvania, Trine, Virginia Wesleyan and Wartburg
