NAPERVILLE — The 2026 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) softball season has moved into its early non-conference rhythm as the conference’s programs continue the transition from preseason preparation to outdoor competition. 
 
Last week’s schedule featured a range of settings, from Millikin’s home-opening doubleheader in Decatur to multiple neutral-site contests in Florida against regional and nationally ranked opponents. 
 
Decatur Duels and the Clermont Catch-22
Millikin opened at Workman Family Softball Field last Friday with a doubleheader split against Greenville. The Big Blue fell in the opener, 3-1, despite multi-hit efforts from Charley Condill and Abby Willis. Millikin responded in the second game with a 5-4 win after overcoming an early 3-0 deficit. Willis drove in two runs with a double in the second inning, while Condill followed with a game-tying double. Summer Wynn and Kailyn Coates later contributed run-scoring hits as the Big Blue secured their first victory of the season.
 
Wednesday’s action in Florida included a pair of games for both Carthage and Wheaton. Carthage opened the day with a 10-5 loss to Wesleyan (Conn.), with the Firebirds hindered by six errors and an early deficit. In the second game, Carthage was edged 5-4 by seventh-ranked East Texas Baptist. The Firebirds held a 4-2 lead entering the bottom of the seventh before East Texas Baptist used a two-out, three-run home run to complete the comeback. Clare Rettler went 3-for-8 with three stolen bases across the two games, while Trinity Breault added three scoreless innings in relief.
 
Wheaton split its two games in Melbourne, defeating Rivier 6-3 before falling to Wisconsin-Superior 6-3. Kennedy Kemp earned the win against Rivier after allowing one run over 4.2 innings and also delivered a two-run double. In the second game, Wheaton was tied before UW-Superior pulled away with four runs in the sixth inning.
 
Faces in the Crowd and League Leaders
As teams continue to build their non-conference resumes, several players have moved to the top of the CCIW statistical leaderboard. Carthage’s Clare Rettler ranks among the league leaders in several categories, including a .536 batting average and 13 runs scored, while also going 14-for-15 in stolen base attempts.
 
North Park’s Kayla Lorenz has been among the conference’s top power hitters in the early season. Lorenz leads the CCIW in slugging percentage (.917), OPS (1.381) and triples (3), while also ranking near the top of the conference in doubles and runs batted in. 
 
In the circle, Carroll has received strong production from Makayla Wall and Mya Schneider. Wall leads the conference in strikeouts (36), wins (3) and saves (2), while Schneider owns the lowest earned run average in the league at 1.86 over 26.1 innings pitched.
 
Defensive Discipline and the Pioneers’ Run-Rule Rampage
Carroll posted two run-rule victories last Saturday in Winter Haven, opening with a 10-0 win over Kean in five innings before defeating Gordon 12-4. Valerie Osthoff drove in three runs in the opener as the Pioneers produced a balanced offensive effort. In the second game, Carroll used a nine-run second inning to take control and maintained the lead behind timely hitting and relief work from Makayla Wall.
 
North Central also turned in a strong performance Monday at Legends Way Ballfield in Clermont with a doubleheader sweep. The Cardinals opened with a 2-0 win over Buena Vista behind a complete-game shutout from Juliana Maude, who struck out seven. North Central’s defense contributed a key double play in the fourth inning to help preserve the shutout. In the second game, an 11-5 win over Utica, the Cardinals recorded two outfield assists at the plate, with Charlotte Toosley and Sydney Nienhouse each cutting down runners trying to score.
 
North Park added a 7-3 win over Aurora last Sunday. Raquel Hare threw a complete game and allowed one earned run, while Sydney Snyder drove in three runs as the Vikings earned a split on the day.
 
The Upcoming Slate: Spring Break Finales and Home Openers
The next seven days will bring another full week of non-conference action as teams conclude spring break travel and begin returning to campus sites. 
 
On Friday, Carthage is scheduled to face Westminster (Pa.) and Moravian, North Park will play Mount St. Joseph and Otterbein, North Central will meet Heidelberg and Curry, and Carroll will take on Wittenberg and Husson. Millikin will travel to Elizabethtown, Ky., for a game against Adrian.
 
Millikin’s Kentucky trip continues through Saturday and Sunday with contests against Transylvania, Franklin and Anderson. Illinois Wesleyan is set to travel to Columbus, Miss., for a Sunday doubleheader at MUW. 
 
Midweek play will shift back to conference campuses, as Elmhurst opens at home Tuesday against Aurora and Carthage returns to Kenosha on Wednesday to host Concordia Chicago. 
 
The week continues next Thursday with Wheaton traveling to Eureka and Augustana hosting Buena Vista for a doubleheader in Rock Island.