IWU softball in familiar territory at College World Series

Posted on May 23, 2018

Illinois Wesleyan softball — Illinois Wesleyan (left to right) Ally Wiegand, Sydney Alery, coach Tiffany Prager and Sam Berghoff lead the Titans into battle in the NCAA Div. III College World Series. (Eric Stock/WJBC)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – Illinois Wesleyan’s softball team will be spending much – and hopefully for them, all – of Memorial Day weekend in Oklahoma City for the NCAA Division III College World Series.

The Titans open the the double-elimination national finals at 6:30 p.m. Thursday against Rowan.

IWU coach Tiffany Prager, who is in her second season as coach, said there’s a comfort level having been there before.

“Just knowing the area and also just continuing to trust our team and what they are about (will help),” Prager said. “I just think we are gong to go in loose and experienced and that’s the best way to play.”

Titans leftfielder Syndey Alery, who hit tie-breaking homeruns in both IWU victories over Wisconsin-Whitewater in the Super Regionals on Saturday, hopes the experience of playing the finals last year will help.

“The competition just gets better every weekend, and so being in Oklahoma City last year we realize the calibier of play that it takes to get there and to compete every pitch,” Alery said.

IWU won its first game at the World Series last year, but bowed out to eventual national champion Virginia Wesleyan.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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