NAPERVILLE — The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) softball season has moved into the opening portion of conference play, with Illinois Wesleyan taking an early lead after a midweek sweep. 
 
Several programs also continued non-conference competition during the final days of March, while Carthage enters April on a four-game winning streak. Individual performances from Carthage’s Clare Rettler and Millikin’s Charley Condill have also continued to draw attention at the national level as conference play begins across the league.
 
Firebirds Find Four-Game Fortune
Carthage put together a productive week at the plate, beginning with a split against nationally ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater last Saturday. After dropping the second game of that twinbill, the Firebirds responded with doubleheader sweeps of Beloit last Sunday and Concordia Chicago last Wednesday. 
 
Carthage recorded run-rule victories in both games against Beloit by scores of 15-6 and 12-4. Clare Rettler led the effort in that series, totaling five hits, five runs scored and four RBIs, including an inside-the-park home run. The Firebirds then followed with an 8-7 extra-inning win and a 7-1 victory over Concordia Chicago. Olivia Hristov paced Carthage in those two games with five hits and three RBIs.
 
Titans Toll the Bell in Naperville
Illinois Wesleyan became the first team to reach 2-0 in CCIW play after sweeping North Central in a doubleheader last Tuesday in Naperville. In the opener, played after a two-hour weather delay that included lightning, senior Gianna Certa threw a complete game and struck out seven in a 4-2 win. The Titans broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning when Casey Wissmiller drew a walk and later scored on a throwing error. 
 
In the second game, Mallory Holland threw a four-hit shutout and struck out two as Illinois Wesleyan secured a 7-0 victory. The Titans added six runs in the seventh inning, with Claire Post delivering a two-run single and Jillian Bollard contributing a double.
 
Condill and Fernandez Corner the Market on Honors
The conference office named Millikin junior outfielder Charley Condill as Hitter of the Week and Carthage sophomore pitcher Anais Fernandez as Pitcher of the Week on Monday afternoon. Condill received the award after batting .769 (10-for-13) across four games. Her week included a doubleheader sweep of Illinois College last Sunday in which she went 5-for-6 with four runs scored and five stolen bases. 
 
Fernandez earned the pitching honor following her complete-game effort against No. 15 Wisconsin-Whitewater last Saturday. In that outing, she allowed two earned runs on eight hits in a 6-2 victory and collected her second win of the season.
 
Rettler and Wall Scale the National Leaderboards
CCIW student-athletes continue to appear among the national leaders in NCAA Division III statistics. Carthage’s Clare Rettler ranks fourth nationally with a .611 batting average and seventh with 28 stolen bases. Carroll pitcher Makayla Wall ranks 25th in hits allowed per seven innings at 4.42 and 60th in WHIP at 1.04. 
 
As a team, Carthage ranks 19th nationally in triples with 11 and 27th in stolen bases per game at 3.10. Wheaton also ranks among the national leaders in several categories, sitting fifth in hit by pitch with 24 and ninth in total walks with 99.
 
Viking Long Balls Sail in Cedar Rapids
Augustana showed power at the plate in a split against Coe last Tuesday. After falling 8-3 in the first game, the Vikings responded with a 16-11 win in the second game, hitting five home runs. Aubrey Gradin led the way with two home runs and five RBIs, while Alexis Duke, Olivia Osborne and Marley Behm each added solo home runs. 
 
Augustana used a 10-run fourth inning to erase an early deficit, collecting nine hits in the frame. Gradin’s grand slam in the inning gave the Vikings the lead for good. Addie Garr earned the win in relief after throwing four innings, helping Augustana move to 4-9 overall.
 
Pioneers Plow Through Beloit
Carroll swept a non-conference doubleheader at Beloit last Saturday. The Pioneers won both games by 7-4 scores. In the opener, Madison Hoagland delivered the go-ahead RBI double during a four-run sixth inning. Makayla Wall earned her fifth win of the season after pitching four innings, and Makayla Grantz recorded the save. 
 
Hoagland continued her strong day in the second game, finishing 3-for-4 with a solo home run and three RBIs. Mya Schneider picked up the win in the circle as Carroll’s pitching and defense limited Beloit’s opportunities.
 
Navigating the Final Non-Conference Currents
Several other CCIW teams also completed non-conference competition as the calendar turned to April. North Park split a doubleheader with Kalamazoo last Sunday, winning the opener 6-3 behind a three-RBI outing from Kayla Lorenz and a save from Abrianne Papas. 
 
Elmhurst concluded its California trip with doubleheaders against Cal Lutheran last Friday and La Verne last Saturday. The Bluejays received 4-for-4 performances from both Annamarie Vivirito and Grace Hayes against Cal Lutheran but fell by scores of 9-6 and 12-4. 
 
Wheaton also faced Aurora last Monday and dropped both games of a doubleheader by scores of 8-4 and 4-2. Freshman Ava Hartnett hit a two-run home run in the first game for the Thunder.
 
Conference Standings and Upcoming Schedule
As of Thursday, Illinois Wesleyan leads the CCIW standings with a 2-0 conference record. North Central is 0-2 in league play, while the remaining seven teams have not yet opened conference competition.
 
CCIW standings are as follows: Illinois Wesleyan (2-0, 12-10), Wheaton (0-0, 11-7), Carroll (0-0, 12-8), Millikin (0-0, 12-9), Carthage (0-0, 11-9), North Park (0-0, 8-8), Augustana (0-0, 4-9), Elmhurst (0-0, 3-13) and North Central (0-2, 6-10).
 
Upcoming doubleheader action begins Friday with North Central at North Park at 12 p.m., followed by Augustana vs. Millikin at 1 p.m. Carroll is scheduled to play at Wisconsin-Whitewater at 2 p.m., while Illinois Wesleyan travels to Wheaton for a 2 p.m. start. Millikin will also face Augustana later in the day at 3 p.m. 
 
The schedule continues Saturday with Elmhurst at Augustana at 1 p.m.