Illinois Wesleyan 2007 Softball Stories

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July 26
Athletic Director Dennie Bridges has announced that the softball coach for Illinois Wesleyan's 2008 season will be the current hitting coach, Steve King. This will be a one-year role as the University conducts a search to fill a new full-time faculty position as softball coach beginning in 2009. King is a 1984 graduate of Illinois Wesleyan, a former stand-out baseball player at IWU and an Amateur Softball Association All-American player. He is employed at State Farm as a manager in the System Department. Former Coach Lloyd Hulit recently announced he would not seek the faculty role or return as coach next year. The 2007 assistant coaches will return: Maxine Quackenbush, Lyle Day and Carla Fritz.The Lady Titans are coming off a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship season and a trip to the NCAA regional.

July 17
As a result of personal considerations and a decision to hire a full-time faculty member in the Illinois Wesleyan athletic department in 2008-09, Lloyd Hulit has announced he will not return as the Titans’ softball coach for the 2008 season. The person hired for the full-time teaching position will serve as head softball coach, which brings the sport to the same staffing level of other team sports. Given the success of his first two seasons, Hulit, who has coached the IWU team on a non-faculty basis, told athletic director Dennie Bridges he would like to bow out on a high note and is not interested in a full-time faculty position. In addition, Hulit recently underwent knee replacement surgery and will have an extensive rehabilitation period. He indicated he also looked forward to being more involved with his grandchildren. Bridges said an interim coach will be hired for this season with a national search to be undertaken next year to fill the faculty and coaching position. Hulit’s two-year record was 64-26 (25-3 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin record) with one league title and an NCAA Division III tournament appearance, the first for IWU since 2003.

June 6
Molly Coers has been selected as the "Most Valuable Player" for the 2007 Illinois Wesleyan softball team. Coers, who was also the team’s “Gold Glove” award winner, hit .390 and set a school season record for runs (48). Her 64 hits is second most to the school mark of 77 set by Brynn Hasse in 2003. In other team honors, Valerie Hackett earned the “Most Improved Player” award and Christy Engel and Allison Ward shared the team’s “Rookie of the Year” honor. For the second straight year, Ashley Deck was the Titans’ “Gold Bat” honoree as she led IWU with a .405 batting average and 40 RBI. Monica Urban and Kelli Flahaven shared both the “Brass Plate” honors along with the “Gwen Meyer Award.” Urban also won the team’s “Roadrunner” award for the second straight year and earned the team’s “Sacrifice Award” while Maggie Olson was the winner of the “Hustle Award.” As a team the Titans set new season records in hits (441), home runs (33) and doubles (70).The Titans finished 32-14 overall, marking the seventh time in the last eight years with 30 or more victories, and were 13-1 in winning the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin regular season title. IWU also made its first appearance in the NCAA Division III tournament since 2003.

May 30
Molly Coers of Illinois Wesleyan has been elected to the first team of the 2007 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American college division softball squad as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Coers graduated in May with a 3.93 grade-point average as an accounting major. This season, the Titan shortstop and leadoff hitter batted .390 and set a school record for most runs in a season (48). Her 64 hits is second most to the school mark of 77 (Brynn Hasse, 2003) and her 24 steals is fifth best in an IWU single season. She is IWU’s all-time leader in hits (198) and runs scored (134), is second in steals (68) and her career .378 batting average is fifth best. Coers’s selection give Illinois Wesleyan a total of 104 Academic All-America berths. There have been 14 previous IWU softball players who have been Academic All-Americans with the most recent being Hasse (third team, 2004). The last first teamer was Sara Powers in 2001.

May 12
The Illinois Wesleyan softball season ended with a 5-1 loss to Coe (Iowa) in the NCAA Division III regional in Eau Claire, Wis., on Fri., May 11in the NCAA Division III regional in Eau Claire, Wis., on Sat., May 12. The Titans, finished with a 32-14 record, were limited to three singles from Kendahl McIntyre, Valerie Hackett and a run scoring hit from Monica Urban. Hackett (6-3) was the starting pitcher and lasted only 1/3 of an inning before senior Lauren Hyland pitched the rest of the game and allowed nine hits while striking out three. Ashley Deck hit .667 (6 for 9) in the tournament and was IWU's lone selection to the all-tournament team.

May 11
The Illinois Wesleyan softball team lost a 3-0 game to the host school, Wisconsin-Eau Claire, in the NCAA Division III regional in Eau Claire, Wis., on Fri., May 11. Junior second baseman Ashley Deck had three of the Titans' five hits as IWU (now 32-13) outhit the Blugolds, 5-3. Freshman Christy Engel fell to 8-7 despite limiting the hosts (33-12) to three hits, four walks and had four strikeouts in six innings of work. IWU will play Coe, who defeated Chicago, 8-0, at 1 p.m. on Sat., May 12.

May 10
The Illinois Wesleyan softball team scored seven unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and held off St. Norbert, 8-6, in the first round of the NCAA Division III regional in Eau Claire, Wis., on Thurs., May 10. The Titans will play Wis.-Eau Claire at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 11 after the Blugolds defeated Augustana, 6-3. Junior Ashley Deck had three hits to pace IWU's 11 hit attack and sophomore Monica Urban had two. Senior Laura Johnson had a double and drove in two runs. Senior Lauren Hyland improved to 18-4 as she tossed four innings with relief help from freshman Christy Engel, who earned her second save.

May 9
llinois Wesleyan seniors Lauren Hyland and Molly Coers and junior second baseman Ashley Deck were chosen to the first team of the all-Great Lakes region as the 2007 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III all-region softball squads were announced Tues., May 8 by the NFCA. Sophomores Valerie Hackett and Monica Urban were named to the second and third teams, respectively. Hyland is 17-4 with a 1.84 ERA and has 359 career strikeouts, needing five to become the school’s all-time leader and pass Jennie Siron (363, 1993-96). Her 17 wins is third most in an IWU season and her career 42 victories is third best, as is her 1.86 career ERA. Coers leads IWU with a .408 average and is tied for most runs in a season (46). Her 64 hits is second most to the record of 77 and her 24 steals is fifth best in an IWU single season. Deck was also a first team choice in 2006. She is hitting .388 with 13 doubles and 39 runs batted in, fifth most in an IWU season. Hackett is batting .400 with 11 doubles and a school record 10 home runs. Urban is second on the team with a .402 average, has scored 26 runs and her 26 steals is fourth most in a season.

May 8
Illinois Wesleyan senior Lauren Hyland, who was 7-0 with a 1.76 earned run average in league play, was chosen "Pitcher of the Year" in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Hyland was joined by Valerie Hackett, Ashley Deck, Monica Urban and Molly Coers on the first team while Kelly Nelson and Kendahl McIntyre earned second team honors. The Titans, who play St. Norbert on May 10 at 4 p.m. in the NCAA Division III regional, were 13-1 in winning the CCIW regular season title. Hyland was third in the league with 37 strikeouts while Deck led the league in RBI (16), Coers led the CCIW in hits (24) and Allison Ward paced the CCIW with five home runs. The IWU coaching staff tied with Augustana for CCIW "Coaching Staff of the Year" honors.

May 7
For the seventh time overall and the first time since the 2003 team finished third in the nation, the Illinois Wesleyan softball team has been chosen to play in the NCAA Division III national tournament. The Titans (31-12) will play St. Norbert (20-12) at 2 p.m. on Thurs., May 10 in the Eau Claire, Wis., regional. Other teams in the field are Augustana, Chicago, Coe, top-seed Wis.-Oshkosh and the host school. In addition to 2003, IWU has been in the NCAA event in 1994, 1996, 2000, 2001 and 2002 and has an 11-12 record in tournament play.

May 5
After defeating Carthage by an 8-0 score in game one, the Illinois Wesleyan softball team lost to Augustana, 6-0, in the championship game of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tournament on Sat., May 5 in Bloomington. The Titans are 31-12 overall and Augustana improved to 30-12. Val Hackett pitched a complete game four-hitter against Carthage and got offensive support from Ashley Deck, who was 3-for-4 with four RBI and Monica Urban, who had three hits and scored three times. Molly Coers had three of the Titans' four hits in the second game loss.

May 4
llinois Wesleyan split its two games in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tournament, held in Bloomington on May 4. The Titans defeated Carthage, 8-0, in the first round before losing to Augustana, 4-1. Valerie Hackett hit two home runs in game one and is the new IWU single season record holder with 10. Allison Ward also homered and had four runs batted in to support Lauren Hyland's four-hit pitching as she improved to 17-3. In game two, IWU committed six errors and left nine players on base. IWU (now 30-11 overall) plays Carthage (21-17) at 12 p.m. on Sat., May 5 and would then need to beat Augustana twice to claim the tournament.

May 2
Illinois Wesleyan downed Eureka, 9-1, on Wed., May 2, in a non-league tune-up for this weekend's College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tournament. Kelly Nelson had three hits to pace IWU's 16 hit attack while Ashley Deck, Laura Johnson and Val Hackett each had two hits. IWU, the top seed, plays No. 4 seed Carthage at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 4 in the first round of the CCIW championship tournament at IWU Field. The Titans are 29-10 and finished 13-1 in the CCIW regular season while Carthage is 20-16 overall, 6-8 in the CCIW. No. 2 Augustana (27-12, 11-3) plays No. 3 North Central (25-13, 8-6) in the double elimination tournament's first game at noon Friday. Click here for full tournament details.

April 24

The Illinois Wesleyan softball team defeated Elmhurst by scores of 10-0 and 6-1 at IWU Field on Tues., April 24 and walked away with the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin regular season championship. The Titans are 28-10 overall and 13-1 in the CCIW and will host the league postseason tourney May 4-5. Katie Dobry (shown) was the offensive hero of game two, going 4-for-4 with a double and a triple while Natalie Chase had three hits and three runs batted in. In game one, the Titans took advantage of 10 Elmhurst walks and six Bluejay errors. Monica Urban got three of the Titans' four hits and Lauren Hyland improved to 16-3 by allowing only four hits.
Hyland (Evergreen Park, Ill., HS) was chosen "Pitcher of the Week" in the CCIW as she was 3-0 last week, all in CCIW games. She pitched a three hit shutout in a 7-0 win at North Park on April 22, a two hit shutout in 5-0 win at Carthage on April 21, and allowed five hits and only one earned run in 3-2 win over North Central on April 19. She now has 350 career strikeouts and needs 14 to pass Jennie Siron (363 from 1993-96) to become the school’s all-time leader.

April 22
With a doubleheader sweep at North Park on Sunday, April 22, the Illinois Wesleyan softball team has clinched a share of the 2007 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin regular season title. IWU is 11-1 in the league and 26-10 overall after winning, 7-0 and 6-2, in Chicago. Lauren Hyland allowed three hits and struck out five in game one as Ashley Deck had a double and a home run with three runs batted in and Kelly Nelson had three hits. Freshman Christy Engel pitched a complete one-hitter in the second game, striking out six. Deck drove home another two runs and Allison Ward had a home run and two runs batted in. The Titans can claim the CCIW title outright with a win over Elmhurst at home on Tues., April 24.

April 21
The Illinois Wesleyan softball team won a pair of College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin games at Carthage on Sat., April 21 by scores of 5-0 and 4-2. IWU improves to 24-10 overall and 9-1 in the CCIW ahead of an April 22 doubleheader at North Park. Lauren Hyland (14-3) pitched the shutout in game one and got offensive support from Molly Coers with three hits while Ashley Deck, Lisa Narotsky and Valerie Hackett each had two hits and Hackett hit home runs in both games. In game two, Deck also clubbed a homer and had two hits along with Coers, Hackett, and Kelly Nelson. Christy Engel (5-5) was the winning hurler in relief, striking out four and allowing only two hits in five innings.

April 19
The Illinois Wesleyan softball team split a pair of College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin games with North Central on Thurs., April 19 at IWU Field. The Titans, behind the five-hit pitching of Lauren Hyland, won game one, 3-2 and lost the nightcap, 5-2. Kendahl McIntrye drove home two runs in game one while Allison Ward and Molly Coers each had two hits. In game two, Stephanie Gockley had two hits with a solo home run, Ashley Deck had two hits and Valerie Hackett had two hits and an RBI. The Titans are 22-10 overall and 7-1 in the CCIW and play weekend league doubleheaders at Carthage (April 21) and at North Park (April 22).

April 17
The Illinois Wesleyan softball team split its two games at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on Tues., April 17, losing game one by a 10-5 score before winning the second game, 9-4. Valerie Hackett allowed only four hits and two earned runs in picking up the pitching win in the nightcap and got offensive support from Molly Coers with three hits, including a double and a home run, with four runs batted in. Kendahl McIntyre also had two hits and three RBI. In the first game, McIntyre had two hits and an RBI and Stephanie Gockley delivered a three-run home run. IWU hosts North Central on Thurs., April 19 in a 4 p.m. doubleheader.

April 17
Illinois Wesleyan sophomore Valerie Hackett has been selected as the "Hitter of the Week" in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. In 11 games, Hackett batted .487 and had an /872 slugging percentage. She was 19 of 39 with three home runs, six doubles and 10 runs batted in as the Titans went 8-3 overall and 6-0 in league play. She homered vs. Wheaton, Augustana and Maryville and had six multiple hit games with three hits against both Millikin and Webster. Hackett was also 1-0 as a pitcher.

April 15
Senior Lauren Hyland tossed a six-inning no-hitter as Illinois Wesleyan downed Maryville, 8-0, in the IWU Tournament on Sunday, April 15. Hyland struck out four and walked no one as she improved to 12-3. She got offensive support from Laura Johnson, who had three hits and three runs batted in, and Molly Coers, who also had three hits. The Titans lost to Webster, 4-2, on a Gail Vogt two-run home run off freshman Christy Engel in the last of the seventh inning. The Titans are 20-8 overall. Valerie Hackett had three hits and Coers and Natalie Chase each had two hits in the second game of the day. The Titans play a pair at Wis.-Whitewater on Tues., April 17 at 3 p.m.

April 14
The Illinois Wesleyan softball team split its pair of games in its own tournament on Sat., April 14, beating Maryville (Mo.), 9-4, before losing to Washington U., 2-1. In the first game, Christy Engel struck out eight and scattered seven hits for the pitching win and got offensive support from Ashley Deck, who had a home run and three runs batted in, along with homers from Valerie Hackett, Laura Johnson, and Allison Ward. Kendahl McIntyre had three of IWU's 13 hits. Washington U. scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to earn the win in the second game. IWU (now 19-7 overall) was limited to four hits and the Bears' Laurel Sagartz struck out 14 in five innings. The Titans play Maryville at 9 a.m. and Webster at 5 p.m. on Sun., April 15.

April 13
Hope College scored three runs on four hits in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Illinois Wesleyan, 3-2, at IWU Field on Friday, April 13. The loss ended IWU's seven-game winning streak and leaves IWU with an 18-6 overall record. Senior shortstop Molly Coers had three hits for IWU while Valerie Hackett had two hits and Allison Ward connected on her fifth home run of the season and drove home the lone two IWU runs in the top of the sixth. IWU will play Chicago at 12:30 p.m. on Sat., April 14 at Champions Fields in Normal (note location change), then will entertain Washington U. at 6 p.m. back at the IWU Field.

April 12
The No. 25-ranked Illinois Wesleyan softball team has now won seven in a row as it swept a pair of league games from Augustana on Thurs., April 12 at a chilly IWU Field. The Titans banged out three home runs, including a grand slam from Kelly Nelson, in winning the opener, 8-0. The Titans also won game two, 13-10, as freshman Allison Ward had two home runs and also had one in the first game. Christy Engel (3-1) was the winning pitcher in game one, allowing just five hits and walking none. Lauren Hyland improved her record to 11-2 with the pitching decision in game two. The Titans are 18-5 overall and 6-0 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin while Augustana falls to 16-11, 2-2 CCIW.

April 10
The Illinois Wesleyan softball team took a pair of wins from Wheaton at IWU Field on Tuesday, April 10, winning game one, 5-1, and the second game, 9-4. Lauren Hyland improved to 10-2 with a three-hit, six strikeout effort in the opener and got offensive support from Laura Johnson, who had three hits and a two-run homer, and Kayla Kindred with three hits. Val Hackett was the winning pitcher and homered in game two and got relief help from Christy Engel. Allison Ward also homered and Molly Coers had three hits for the Titans, who are 16-5 overall and 4-0 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Wheaton fell to 13-13, 1-3 in the CCIW.

April 9
The No. 21-ranked Illinois Wesleyan softball team started its College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin season off with a pair of wins over Millikin on Monday, April 9 at Decatur's Rotary Park. The Titans (14-5 overall) took game one by an 8-2 score and earned a 4-3 win in game two. Lauren Hyland picked up the pitching win in the first game and a save in the second, retiring six straight to preserve the win for Christy Engel. Molly Coers had four hits in the opener while Val Hackett and Kendall McIntyre each had three. In the second game, Lisa Narotsky had two hits and two RBI and Hackett had two hits and a run batted in. The Titans host Wheaton (13-11, 1-1 CCIW) at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 10.

April 6
The Illinois Wesleyan softball team banged out 14 hits in a 9-0 win over Webster on Friday, April 6 in St. Louis. Five Titans had two or more hits with Ashley Deck getting three with two each from Laura Johnson, Allison Ward, Kelly Nelson and Kayla Kindred. Lauren Hyland had the shutout, allowing four hits and striking out five in seven innings. Friday's second game was cancelled due to the freezing weather. The Titans (12-5 overall) and Millikin play a doubleheader on Mon., April 9 at 5 p.m. at Decatur's Rotary Park.

April 3
The Illinois Wesleyan softball team split a pair of games with DePauw, winning the opener, 2-1 in eight innings before falling in the nightcap, 10-4. IWU is now 11-5 this season while DePauw is 20-2. Lauren Hyland had a no-hitter through 6 2/3 innings before allowing her first hit in the first game and struck out six and Laura Johnson drove home both runs in the eighth inning with one out. Three Titan errors led to six unearned runs in the nightcap as IWU had seven hits and stranded five. IWU's doubleheader at Millikin on Wednesday has been postponed due to te cold weather and high winds forecast. The Titans and Big Blue will make those games up on Monday, April 9 at 5 p.m. at Decatur's Rotary Park.

March 31
The 17th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan softball team's record fell to 10-4 after two losses at the University of Chicago on Sat., March 31. The Titans were limited to two hits in dropping the first game, 5-1, to the Maroons, then lost the nightcap, 2-0, in a game shortened to five innings due to rain. In game one, Lauren Hyland was the losing pitcher despite striking out seven in six innings. Kayla Kindred had a double for one of the two hits. Valerie Hackett allowed four hits in the second game as IWU managed four hits. IWU opens its home season with a doubleheader vs. DePauw at 4 p.m. on Tues., April 3.

March 27
The Illinois Wesleyan softball team swept a pair of games at Monmouth on Tues., March 27, taking game one by a 9-3 margin and winning the second game, 11-0. Valerie Hackett had three hits and knocked home three runs in the opener, when she was the winning pitcher, allowing five hits in six innings. Molly Coers, Monica Urban and Ashley Deck all had two hits in both games and Hackett had two more hits in the nightcap. Allison Ward had three hits in the second game to support winning pitcher Lauren Hyland (6-1), who worked five innings and scattered six hits. The Titans (10-2) play a doubleheader at the University of Chicago at 1 p.m. on Sat., March 31.

March 27
Illinois Wesleyan junior second baseman Ashley Deck earned College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin “Hitter of the Week” honors for softball on March 27, while her teammate, senior Lauren Hyland, earned co-“Pitcher of the Week” honors with North Central’s Jenna Prieto. Deck batted .469 with team highs of 15 hits and 10 runs scored in helping IWU to an 8-2 record at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. She had three doubles, a triple, six runs batted in and a .625 slugging percentage. Deck also had two sacrifice hits and two steals with an on base percentage of .514. Hyland won five of the Titans’ eight games, going 5-1 with a 1.91 earned run average. She struck out 35 in 33 innings and had three shutouts, including a one-hitter against Washington & Jefferson, a three-hitter against Wisconsin-Stevens Point and a two-hitter against Endicott.

March 23
The Illinois Wesleyan softball Titans leave Florida with an 8-2 record after they split their final two games at the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla, on Fri., March 23. IWU lost to NAIA Mt. Vernon Nazarene by a 6-2 score before beating Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 3-0. Senior pitcher Lauren Hyland improved to 5-1 with the three-hitter against the Pointers as she struck out seven. She got offensive support from Molly Coers, Laura Johnson and Kendahl McIntyre, each of whom had runs batted in and two hits. Ashley Deck had three hits with a double. The Titans were limited to only four hits in the first game by Kristin Eyerman, who struck out five. IWU's next games will be a pair at Monmouth on Tues., March 27.

March 22
The Illinois Wesleyan softball team split a pair of games at the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla., on Thurs., March 22. The Titans won their first game of the day, topping Hamilton, 7-0 behind the combined one-hit pitching of Val Hackett and Kara Krause. Hackett struck out nine in five innings and Krause fanned two in her two innings of work. Molly Coers had an inside-the-park home run, the first of her career and only her second extra base hit of the more than 140 she has had. The Titans' first loss of the year came to Western Connecticut State, 7-1. Lauren Hyland (4-1) took the pitching loss as IWU managed 10 hits and two walks but stranded 11 runners. IWU wraps up its spring trip with games vs. Mt. Vernon Nazarene (9 a.m.) and UW-Stevens Point (11 a.m.) on Friday, March 23.

March 21
The Illinois Wesleyan softball team, now ranked No. 11 in the latest Division III coaches' poll, improved to 6-0 with two wins on Wed., March 21 in Orlando, Fla. In the first game, IWU downed Colorado College, 7-1, then handled Otterbein, 8-2, in the second game. Against Colorado, Monica Urban had three hits and Lisa Narotsky had two to back the two-hit complete game pitching of Christy Engel, who struck out seven. Against Otterbein, junior catcher Kelly Nelson had three runs batted in and six Titans had two or more hits, including Molly Coers with three. Lauren Hyland (4-0) picked up the pitching win, scattering four hits and striking out 10. IWU will face Hamilton (9 a.m.) and Western Connecticut (1 p.m.) on Thurs., March 22.

March 19
The No. 16-ranked Illinois Wesleyan softball team won two more games in the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla., on Monday, March 19, and is off to a 4-0 start in the 2007 season. Titan pitchers Valerie Hackett and Lauren Hyland each pitched gems to beat Allegheny, 6-1, and Washington & Jefferson, 10-1, respectively. In game one, Hackett allowed only two hits, struck out five and walked two as Ashley Deck and Lisa Narotsky each had two hits and drove in a run. In the second game, Hyland struck out eight and walked no one while Laura Johnson had two hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs. The Titans play Colorado College (9 a.m.) and Otterbein (11 a.m.) on Wed., March 21.

March 18
The No. 16-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University softball team started its season with a pair of wins in Orlando, Fla., topping Endicott, 7-0, and downing Smith, 4-3, in eight innings on Sunday, March 18. In the opener, starting pitcher Lauren Hyland pitched seven shutout innings while giving up only two hits. Sophomore Valerie Hackett homered in the sixth inning, one of her five hits on the day. Molly Coers, Laura Johnson, Kayla Kindred each collected two hits while Johnson drove in a team-high three runs and Coers drove in two. In the nightcap, IWU scored the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth. Ashley Deck, Katie Dobry and Allison Ward each contributed two hits. Hyland (2-0) got the pitching victory in relief, despite allowing two runs in two innings.

February 21
The Illinois Wesleyan University softball team has been picked to finish second in the 2007 preseason College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin coaches poll. The Titans received 43 points and earned one first place vote, trailing only Augustana with 49 points and the remaining seven first place votes. The Titans open their 2007 season at the Orlando, Fla. Rebel Spring Games on March 18 with games against Endicott and Smith. IWU, coached by Lloyd Hulit, was 32-12 overall in 2006, marking the sixth time in the last seven years with 30 or more victories.

December 2006
The Illinois Wesleyan softball team will head for New Zealand on December 30 for international exhibition play. IWu plays doubleheaders against Wellington on Thurs., Jan. 4 at 6 p.m. and against Hutt Valley on Sat., Jan. 6 at 1 p.m. The Titans' 2007 regular season begins March 18 at the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla.