NAPERVILLE — College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) softball moved into the heart of the conference schedule this past week, featuring several doubleheaders that shifted the early standings. 
 
Illinois Wesleyan maintained its perfect start, while Carthage and Millikin utilized high-scoring outings and national-leader performances to stay unbeaten in league play. From extra-inning walk-offs to dominant efforts in the circle, the following notebook recaps the significant accomplishments and statistical milestones from the past week of action.
 
Weekly Honors and Circle Dominance
The conference office recognized Augustana sophomore Aubrey Gradin as Hitter of the Week and Illinois Wesleyan senior Gianna Certa as Pitcher of the Week on Monday. Gradin received the hitter honor after recording three home runs and eight RBI during the week, including a grand slam in a win over Coe. 
 
Certa helped Illinois Wesleyan open conference play with a 4-0 record, earning a complete-game victory at North Central and a five-inning shutout against Wheaton. Over 14.0 innings pitched during the week, she allowed two runs and struck out 10. Illinois Wesleyan also continued to perform well defensively, leading the CCIW with a .967 fielding percentage and ranking 40th nationally in the category.
 
Firebirds Flying High on the Basepaths
Carthage opened conference play with a road sweep of North Park on Wednesday, posting 3-2 and 4-2 victories in Chicago. Olivia Hristov drove in four runs across the two games, while Clare Rettler scored five runs and stole four bases. Rettler entered the week ranked fourth nationally with a .607 batting average and fifth in Division III with 27 stolen bases. 
 
As a team, Carthage ranked 27th nationally in stolen bases per game at 3.09 and 23rd in total triples with 12. The Firebirds improved to 2-0 in conference play with the sweep.
 
Big Blue Machines Cranking Out Sweeps
Millikin extended its winning streak to six games with a non-conference sweep of DePauw on Wednesday after opening CCIW play with a doubleheader sweep of Augustana last Friday. In the wins over Augustana, by scores of 7-4 and 11-3, Abby Willis finished 4-for-7 across the two games, while Summer Wynn and Kailyn Coates each hit home runs. 
 
Haley Willan led Millikin offensively in the opener against DePauw, going 3-for-4 with three RBI. In the circle, Alyssa Dralle continued to lead the conference in both innings pitched at 98.1 and victories with nine. Millikin also ranked 27th nationally in doubles per game at 2.05.
 
Cardinal Redemption and Bluejay Resilience
North Central ended a five-game losing streak by splitting a conference doubleheader with Elmhurst on Wednesday. The Cardinals won the opener, 5-2, behind a complete-game effort from Juliana Maude, who struck out eight batters and earned her fourth win of the season. Lauren Bowmar drove in two runs in support. 
 
Elmhurst responded with a 2-1 victory in game two as Emma Lenczewski threw a complete game and allowed one run. Brenna Morley delivered the go-ahead RBI in the seventh inning for the Bluejays. Despite the split, North Central entered the week with the lowest team ERA in the CCIW at 2.76, a mark that ranked 64th nationally.
 
Windy City Duels and Defensive Gems
North Park recorded a conference sweep of North Central last Friday, including a 1-0 win in nine innings in the second game of the doubleheader. Katelyn Meyer threw seven scoreless innings before Abrianne Papas earned the win with two shutout relief innings. Miabella Collazo ended the game with a walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth to score Kayla Lorenz. 
 
Lorenz continued to rank among the conference leaders offensively, leading the CCIW with 30 RBI and four triples. North Park also remained among the national leaders defensively, ranking 14th in Division III in double plays per game at 0.50.
 
Thunder Strikes and Pioneer Persistence
Wheaton picked up its first conference win of the season by splitting a home doubleheader with Carroll on Wednesday. The Thunder won the opener, 5-1, as Shylah Dozeman threw a complete game with six strikeouts and allowed one earned run. Abby Whitehead hit her sixth home run of the season in the game, a total that ranked 26th nationally entering the weekend. 
 
Carroll answered with a 10-7 win in the second game behind a three-hit, three-RBI performance from Madison Hoagland. Makayla Wall continued to lead the CCIW in opposing batting average at .188 and shared the conference lead in strikeouts with 73, tied with North Central’s Juliana Maude.
 
National Notables and the Weekend Outlook
CCIW programs continued to appear prominently in the national statistical rankings through games played on Wednesday. Illinois Wesleyan ranked fourth nationally in total sacrifice bunts with 33, while Wheaton ranked fifth in total walks drawn with 121. Individually, Carthage’s Gwen Hendrick and North Central’s Gwen Shouse were tied for the national lead in stolen base percentage at 1.000.
 
Illinois Wesleyan held the top spot in the conference standings at 4-0 entering the weekend, with Millikin and Carthage both at 2-0. The conference schedule resumes Friday with Elmhurst at Carroll at 3 p.m. and Illinois Wesleyan at Augustana at 4 p.m. 
 
Saturday’s schedule includes Millikin at Elmhurst, Wheaton at Carthage and North Park at Illinois Wesleyan, with all three doubleheaders scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Additional conference games are set for next Tuesday, when Carthage travels to Carroll and Wheaton visits North Central.