OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – The Illinois Wesleyan University softball team won 5-1 over Rowan University in the first round of the NCAA Championship Tournament on Thursday night. The national championship tournament continues Friday-Tuesday, May 25-29 at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium.
The Profs (39-12-1) are the third seed among the eight teams that advanced to the championship. They play Case Western Reserve University (37-11) on Friday at 2:30 p.m. Illinois Wesleyan University (37-11-1), the sixth seed, meets the University of Texas-Tyler (44-3) at 5:30 p.m.
In the other first round games, #1 Virginia Wesleyan University shut out #8 Ithaca College, 6-0 and #5 Luther College had a 6-3 win against #4 Massachusetts Institute of Technology. #2 University of Texas-Tyler (43-3) defeated #7 Case Western Reserve University, 7-1.
Right-hander Ally Wiegand (so. Downs, IL/Downs Tri-Valley) threw a complete game for the victory. She (18-4) only gave up four hits and one earned run while striking out seven batters. Righty
Jesse DeDomenico (so. East Windsor, NJ/Hightstown) took the loss (23-8).
Second baseman Shelby Fulk (so. El Paso, IL/El Paso-Gridley) led the Titans with two hits (two at bats), a home run and three RBIs. Right fielder Maggie Graham (sr. Wheaton, IL/Wheaton-Warrensville S.) and catcher Delaney Olinger (sr. Elgin, IL/St. Charles N.) each had one hit and one RBI. Graham also scored one run. Shortstop Sam Berghoff (so. Chicago, IL/Whitney Young) contributed with one hit and two runs. Center fielder Jillian Runyon (jr. Pekin, IL/Tremont) crossed the plate one time.
For the Profs, designated player
Kelly Duffy (fr. Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Mem.) recorded a solo home run. It was the first of her collegiate career. Shortstop
Carly Anderson (jr. Nutley, NJ/Nutley) hit a double.
Illinois had a 1-0 lead after the first inning. Fulk drove in Graham with a single to left center field. The Titans had two more runs in the third inning. Graham had a base hit down the left field line, scoring Berghoff. Olinger hit a single up the middle and Graham came home.
Duffy's solo shot came in the bottom of the fourth. Her home run went down the left field line. Fulk recorded a two-run homer to left field in the seventh. She has six home runs on the season.
Rowan advanced to the national tournament after defeating Moravian College, 2-1 and 2-1 in the Super Regional. The Profs earned an automatic bid to the national tournament as the NJAC Champion. It is the Profs' 26
thappearance and eighth straight in the NCAA postseason. Rowan has advanced to the national finals six times and finished tied for third in 2016 and fourth in 1994 and 1993.
