MONMOUTH, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University softball team scored 25 runs on 22 hits in a doubleheader sweep at Monmouth College Tuesday evening, March 18. The Titans (6-2) won game one, 18-1, in five innings. Freshman Ella Hermes (Peru, Ill.-Saint Bede Academy) tossed a one-hit shutout to lead IWU past Monmouth (2-14), 7-0, and complete the sweep.

Game One: Illinois Wesleyan 18, Monmouth 1 (5 inn.)
Senior Ava Khoury (Columbia, Ill.-Columbia) finished a triple shy of the cycle in a 3-for-3 day that included six RBIs. Fellow senior Jen Kuhn (Normal, Ill.-University High) went 4-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored, while juniors Anna Beckman (Bourbonnais, Ill.-Bishop McNamara) and Casey Wissmiller (Bloomington, Ill.-Olympia) along with freshman Grace Wilkens (Bartlett, Ill.-Bartlett) notched multiple hits. IWU cranked out 19 hits in all, with 10 different Titans tallying a knock.

Illinois Wesleyan scored two in its first trip to the plate as three hits, a walk, and a hit by pitch made for a busy opening inning. IWU sent eight batters to the plate, with sophomore Hailey Milgazo (Poway, Calif.-Poway) leading off with a single and Beckman following with a double. After freshman Bella Pinter's (LaMoille, Ill.-Saint Bede Academy) sac fly, Kuhn stayed hot with an RBI single. Leading 2-0, Khoury was plunked and junior Claire Post (Normal, Ill.-Normal West) walked to load the bases, but a groundout stranded three.

The Green and White tacked on five runs in the second to take control, 7-0. Grace Wilkens and Julia Wilkens (Bartlett, Ill.-Bartlett) recorded back-to-back singles to lead off the frame before using a double steal to score a run. With bases loaded, Khoury belted a two-run double and Post added a two-run single to break the game open.

After Monmouth pushed a run across the plate, Khoury and Post crushed homers in the fourth. Kuhn and Wissmiller singled in IWU's first two at bats of the inning before Khoury delivered a three-run no-doubter. It marked the first homerun of the season for Illinois Wesleyan, but was not the only for long as Post followed with a solo shot to break the game open, 11-1.

The Scots made a pitching change, but the Green and White offense showed no signs of slowing down. Sophomore Annika Brown (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community) notched the first hit of her career and senior Kennady Estes (Warrenton, Mo.-Warrenton) followed with a single to right to put runners on the corners. Milgazo capped the five-run inning with a sacrifice fly as IWU carried a 12-1 lead into the bottom half of the fourth.

The Titans put up six more runs in the fifth as Khoury, Kuhn, and Beckman drove in runs. Sophomore Mallory Holland (Shelbyville, Ill.-Shelbyville) tossed the bottom of the fifth to wrap up the run-rule win. Holland threw a hitless fifth, striking out two of the three batters she faced.

Holland was one of three pitchers for the Titans, as junior Gianna Certa (Grayslake, Ill.-Grayslake North) earned the start and was the pitcher of record. Freshman Rhea Marjdetko (Lemont, Ill.-Lemont) made her debut, logging one inning. 

Game Two: Illinois Wesleyan 7, Monmouth 0
Hermes made her collegiate pitching debut as the starter in game two. Hermes put together a memorable performance, carrying a perfect game into the seventh inning. The Scots broke up the effort with a leadoff single in the seventh, but Hermes was unfazed as she retired the next three batters to earn the first win of her career. In all, she fanned seven over a seven-inning complete game.

IWU did all of its damage in the fourth and fifth innings. The Titans used an RBI double off the bat of Kuhn and a two-run homer by Wissmiller to drive ahead, 3-0 in the fourth.

Illinois Wesleyan's 4-5-6 hitters provided the run-scoring hits in the fifth. Grace Wilkens got the Titans started with a single through the left side. A two-out walk by Pinter had two on for Kuhn, who delivered a run-scoring single to center. Stepping into the batter's box next, Wissmiller went oppo with a two-run double. Khoury followed with a two-bagger of her own, trading places with Wissmiller as the Green and White's lead expanded to 7-0.

Wissmiller ultimately finished a single short of the cycle. The junior went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. Beckman, Kuhn, and Khoury recorded two hits apiece as IWU outhit MC, 12-1.

Illinois Wesleyan is back in action this Saturday, March 22, for its home opener. The Titans will host No. 11 Trine University for a doubleheader at Inspiration Field. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.