Shelton Hitting, Pitching For Millikin in Victories

The Millikin softball team opened up play in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) with a doubleheader sweep of Elmhurst College Friday, April 5 at the Big Blue’s home field, Borg Warner Field. Millikin won game one 6-3 and took game two 10-0.

Millikin jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in game one in the first inning on a two-run homer by Janet Ellis (Latham, Warrensburg Latham H.S.) and an RBI double by Hillary Shelton (Beecher City, H.S.). The Big Blue made it 6-0 in after four with scoring runs in the fourth inning on an Alyssa Visvardis (Homer Glen, Lockport Township H.S.) run scoring single and a two-run homer by senior Cora Jeffers (Sherman, Williamsville H.S.).  Jeffers was 3-4 in the game with two RBIs, two runs scored, a homer and a double.  Visvardis had two hits in the game for the Big Blue.

Lauren Kitterman (Bloomington, Downs Tri-Valley H.S.) got the win on the mound in game one allowing 10 hits and two earned runs over six innings. Shelton earned the save pitching the final inning.

Shelton then earned the win on the mound in game two throwing five shutout innings with four strikeouts.  Jeffers continued her hot hitting with another 3-4 performance.  Becca Thompson (Hanover Park, Schaumburg H.S.) hit two home runs in the game for the Big Blue. Tess Strang (Urbana, Culver Academy) was 2-3 with two RBIs and Rachel Kindred (Ottawa, H.S.) was 2-4 with two RBIs.

Millikin softball team split a CCIW doubleheader with Augustana College Sunday, April 7 at Decatur’s Borg Warner Field.

Millikin won the first game 3-2 in walk-off fashion with Ellis driving home the game winner in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jeffers led off the inning with a walk, stole second and moved up to third on a foul out.  Visvardis and Ellis each had two hits for the Big Blue.  Kitterman was the winning pitcher allowing two runs in seven innings and recording seven strikeouts.

Game two went to Augustana 6-1. Millikin’s lone run came on a home run by Abbie Tinnon (Hanna City, Limestone Community H.S.).

Millikin softball team won two games over Greenville College at home on April 3. The Big Blue won game one 8-0 in five innings and rallied to win game two 6-5.

Kitterman got the win for Millikin throwing five shutout innings and allowing only three hits with six strikeouts.  Strang led Millikin going 2-3 with a home run and three RBIs. Visvardis was 2-4 with a double and two RBIs. Ellis was 2-2 and Thompson was 2-3 with a double and an RBI.

Millikin rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win game two with Thompson, Visvardis and Shelton all homering for the Big Blue. Kitterman got the win in relief.  Visvardis, Strang, Kindred, Shelton, Thompson and Rodriguez each had two hits for Millikin.

Millikin took a pair of 1-0 games from Rose-Hulman on April 1 at home.

In game one, Kitterman was the winning pitcher and the Big Blue scored the winning run in the sixth inning on an RBI single by Kindred.

Hillary Lambert (Donovan, H.S.) led the Big Blue to victory in game two throwing seven shutout innings while allowing only four hits and striking out one.  Strang had the game winning RBI.  Visvardis scored the winning run and went 2-3 at the plate.

Millikin is now 14-3, 3-1 and faces four straight doubleheaders on the road starting with make-up games at Blackburn College Monday, April 8 at 5 p.m.  Millikin has added a twin bill with Wisconsin-Platteville on Friday, April 12 starting at 3 p.m. with the games being played at the Beloit College in Beloit, Wis.