BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Top-seeded Illinois Wesleyan won its third consecutive College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Softball Tournament title on Saturday, defeating third-seeded Augustana 5-4 in the championship game at Inspiration Field in Bloomington, Ill.
 
The Titans finished the tournament with a 3-0 record and secured the program’s 18th CCIW Tournament championship. Illinois Wesleyan, 28-13 overall, also earned the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
 
With the win, Illinois Wesleyan became the first program to win three consecutive CCIW Tournament titles since the Titans did so from 2017 to 2019. IWU remains the only program in league history to win three or more straight tournament championships, a mark that also includes a four-year run from 2000 to 2003.
 
Saturday’s final moved back and forth before Illinois Wesleyan took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth inning. Augustana opened the scoring in the top of the first when Aubrey Gradin, a First Team All-CCIW selection, hit a solo home run to right field.
 
The Titans answered in the bottom half of the inning. Grace Wilkens stole third and scored on an error to tie the game, and Kelsey Bartels later scored on a fielder’s choice by Casey Wissmiller to give IWU a 2-1 lead.
 
Augustana tied the game in the fourth inning on an RBI single from Emma Evans. The Vikings then moved in front in the fifth, using a bases-loaded walk by Madi Bickell and a wild pitch that scored Emily Gad to take a 4-2 lead.
 
Illinois Wesleyan responded in the sixth. Riley McDoniel doubled to left-center to score Margo Geary and bring the Titans within one. With two outs, Bartels singled to center field to score Wilkens and McDoniel, giving Illinois Wesleyan a 5-4 lead.
 
Senior Gianna Certa, the CCIW Pitcher of the Year, entered in the seventh inning and recorded the save. Caroline Gatchell earned the win in relief after throwing 1.2 scoreless innings.
 
Prior to the game, Wilkens was named the recipient of the CCIW Elite 26 award, awarded to the student-athlete who excels academically and athletically at the conference level in each of the CCIW’s 26 sponsored sports. To be eligible for the Elite 26 Award, a student-athlete must be a sophomore, junior, or senior and in at least their second season of competition with their current team and playing in the final game of the conference tournament.