CHAMPIONS!!! Marlins Hoist Second Straight NCAA Softball Trophy

Virginia Wesleyan won its second straight NCAA Division III Softball Championship title on Tuesday afternoon as the Marlins topped Illinois Wesleyan University, 3-1.
Virginia Wesleyan won its second straight NCAA Division III Softball Championship title on Tuesday afternoon as the Marlins topped Illinois Wesleyan University, 3-1.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. --- The NCAA Division III softball walnut and bronze prize resides in The Commonwealth for another year as reigning national champion Virginia Wesleyan University claimed its second straight title with a 3-1 victory over Illinois Wesleyan University in game three of the best-of-three championship series in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Virginia Wesleyan becomes the second team in the last five years to earn back-to-back Division III softball crowns, joining Tufts University in 2014 and 2015. The Marlins finish the season with a Division III record 55 victories, eclipsing the record of 54 wins they set last season after finishing their campaign at the USA Hall of Fame Complex.

All-American lefty Hanna Hull won all five games for VWU in OKC including Tuesday's one-hit effort of IWU to clinch the championship. The win improved her record to 40-2, tying the Division III record for victories set by former Muskingum College (now university) hurler Jennifer Segner in 2000.

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Illinois Wesleyan (40-14-1) played off its momentum from Monday's 5-4 win in eight innings in game two of the series by opening Tuesday's scoring. Jillian Runyon was hit by a Hull pitch to lead off the game and promptly stole second, her 50th swipe of the season. After a Sydney Alery groundout moved her to third, Runyon came around to score on a wild pitch on ball-four to Sam Berghoff.

Virginia Wesleyan (55-3) was quick to double-up the Titans with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Kiersten Richardson led off with a walk, but didn't stay on first long as ODAC Player of the Year Madison Glaubke turned on an offering from Brea Walker and cleared the left-field fence for a two-run homer. It was her second bomb in OKC and seventh of the season.

Neither team flipped over the scoreboard throughout the middle frames until VWU tacked on an insurance run in the fifth. Richardson earned a one-out free pass and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Glaubke moved her over to third with a single to center, and All-American first baseman Cassetty Howerin followed with a sacrifice fly to the wall in left to move up both runners and plate the game's final run. The RBI marked her league-best 62nd of the season and ODAC-record 221st of her stellar career.

Hull experienced little trouble in limiting IWU to three baserunners on one hit, a walk, and a batter reaching via error. She struck out five in seven full innings, giving her ODAC records of 376 strikeouts and 267.2 innings pitched. She already owns the conference record for career strikeouts at 748 having now completed her sophomore season.

The southpaw retired nine straight Titans until giving up a one-out double in the fourth. Hull then registered eight straight outs before an error put a runner on to lead off the seventh.

Illinois Wesleyan's Walker worked the first 5.0 innings before being saddled with the loss to finish at 13-6. She gave up three runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts.