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2026 Softball Seniors (l to r): Claire Post, Gianna Certa, Casey Wissmiller, Anna Beckman, Caroline Gatchell
Sam Okewole
0
North Park NPU 10-13
8
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 16-11
North Park NPU
10-13
0
Final
8
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
16-11
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H E
North Park NPU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 2 0 4 1 0 1 8 10 0

W: Certa, Gianna (6-2) L: Raquel Hare (5-6)

3
North Park NPU 10-14
7
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 17-11
North Park NPU
10-14
3
Final
7
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
17-11
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
North Park NPU 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 3 11 2
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 3 0 3 0 1 0 X 7 8 0

W: Gatchell, Caroline (4-4) L: Katelyn Meyer (0-2)

Game Recap: Softball |

Seniors Shine in Sweep of North Park

Post & Wissmiller homer, Certa & Gatchell notch wins

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University softball team celebrated its senior class with a sweep of North Park University on Senior Day Saturday, April 11, at Inspiration Field. The Titans rolled to an 8-0 six-inning win in game one before snagging a 7-3 victory in the night cap. IWU improves to 17-11 overall and 7-1 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play, while NPU falls to 10-14, 2-4 CCIW.

Game One: Illinois Wesleyan 8, North Park 0 (6 inn.)
Seniors Casey Wissmiller (Bloomington, Ill.-Olympia) and Anna Beckman (Bourbonnais, Ill.-Bishop McNamara) took full advantage of their first at-bats of the day. Wissmiller smashed a solo shot out to left and Beckman followed with a triple to right. Beckman doubled the lead with nifty baserunning as the senior hit the Vikings with a hesitation to avoid a tag and slide home safely on a wild pitch. 

Leading 2-0 into the third with senior Gianna Certa (Third Lake, Ill.-Grayslake North) dealing in the circle, the Titans broke the game open. IWU manufactured four runs on three hits and a walk in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore Grace Wilkens (Bartlett, Ill.-Bartlett) singled and was bunted to second before scooting into third on a wild pitch. Beckman put down a beautiful bunt that left NPU with no options as Grace Wilkens crossed safely. Wissmiller and Beckman pulled off a double steal as Wissmiller drew a throw to second and Beckman scampered home. Another senior came through moments later as Claire Post (Normal, Ill.-Normal West) launched a two-run shot to extend the lead to 6-0.

Illinois Wesleyan tacked on a run in the fourth, with freshman Isabella Boskey (Huntley, Ill.-Huntley) reaching second on an error in the outfield. Sophomore Kelsey Bartels (Downs, Ill.-Tri-Valley) drove Boskey home with a single to the right-center gap for a 7-0 advantage.

The Titans finished off the game in walk-off fashion in the sixth, taking the victory by an 8-0 tally. 

The Green and White went for 10 hits, while Certa limited the Vikings to four. Grace Wilkens went 3-for-4 in the leadoff spot and Beckman added a 2-for-3 effort. Post led the team with two RBIs, with four others drove in runs. 

Certa went the full six innings en route to the complete game shutout. She fanned four, walked none, and stranded five baserunners to move to 6-2 on the year.

Game Two: Illinois Wesleyan 7, North Park 3
A sacrifice fly by Beckman and a two-run double by Post pushed the Titans ahead 3-0 after their first trip to the plate.

The Titans plated three more in the third. Bartels reached on an error and moved into scoring position on a steal of second. With Wissmiller trotting down to first with a walk, Bartels caught NPU sleeping and moved into third. Beckman came through with a squeeze to score Bartels and Post's sacrifice fly brought Wissmiller home for a five-run lead. Sophomore Jillian Bollard (Roselle, Ill.-Saint Viator) joined in on the fun with a run-scoring single up the middle to lift IWU to a 6-0 lead into the fourth. 

Illinois Wesleyan plated an insurance run in the fifth to build a 7-1 cushion in support of senior pitcher Caroline Gatchell (Grayslake, Ill.-Carmel Catholic). 

North Park manufactured two runs in the seventh, but Gatchell buckled down with back-to-back fly balls to secure the Senior Day sweep. 

NPU outhit IWU, 11-8, with Grace Wilkens putting together another strong 3-for-4 outing at the top of the lineup. Beckman went 2-for-2 with two driven in, with Post notching three RBIs.

Gatchell tossed a complete game in the circle, fanning two, while allowing three runs on 11 hits. 

Illinois Wesleyan is back in action Thursday, April 16, for a twin bill against Millikin University. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. at Inspiration Field at Carol Willis Park.
 
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