Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - After winning three consecutive games to force a winner-take-all final at the CCIW Tournament, Augustana couldn't defeat Illinois Wesleyan for a second straight time Friday, falling 9-2 to the Titans in the "if necessary" game. Coach Kris Kistler's club falls to 28-14-1 on the year. IWU improves to 36-8 and earns the CCIW's automatic NCAA Tournament berth.
 
Danielle Smith had an RBI double and Amanda Lack an RBI in single as Illinois Wesleyan took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Senior Christie Wiersema (Morrison HS, Morrison, Ill.), who already had a win and two saves in the tournament, came on in relief of starter Kendra Rakers (Belleville West HS, Millstadt, Ill.) and helped the Vikings avoid further damage.
 
The Titans tacked on a run in the third. Hannah Bowen led off with a bunt single and eventually scored on Mary Rankin's sacrifice fly to center.
 
A Jenna Teson (Jacobs HS, Algonquin, Ill.) leadoff walk and the third home run of the tournament by freshman Zayne Blumberg (Rock Canyon HS, Denver, Colo.) cut Augustana's deficit to 3-2 in the fourth inning. Junior Jennifer Gray (Lincoln-Way HS, Mokena, Ill.) singled and junior Ashley Anderson (Sherrard HS, Viola, Ill.) drew a walk, but the Vikings stranded two runners.
 
IWU put the game away with a six-run sixth. Danielle Smith's two-run double was the big blow.
 
Rakers took the loss, falling to 0-2. Wiersema, who was lifted after the third inning and returned in the sixth, gave up four hits and two runs (one earned) in 4 1/3 innings. Ashley Anderson allowed five hits and five runs (four earned) in 2 1/3 innings.
 
Seniors Laura Behnke (St. Francis HS, Roselle, Ill.) and Chelsea Lavin (Downers Grove South HS, Downers Grove, Ill.) each had two hits for Augustana.