WAUKESHA, Wis. - Despite a valiant late-inning comeback, it wasn't quite enough as the Carroll University softball team lost to Wheaton College 6-3 in nine innings to cap a hard-fought, tension-filled College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin doubleheader at Jean Kilgour Field on Tuesday evening.
Following the series split with the Thunder, Carroll dropped to 6-4 in the conference standings and 15-13 overall.
The Pioneers, who are currently in sole possession of third place, remain in contention for a berth in the CCIW tournament with six conference games remaining (including doubleheader matchups with Millikin University (April 22), Illinois Wesleyan University (April 23) an Elmhurst College (April 29).
As the game remained tied 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs, sophomore first baseman Kelly Thornton hit a towering walk-off three-run home run over the the left-field fence to end the marathon battle for Wheaton, which improved to 2-6 in league and 6-24 overall.
Carroll head coach Amy Gradecki was pleased with the way her team showed its true character and battled hard for nine innings.
"Wheaton just had a couple of good at-bats that made the difference," said Gradecki, of the final inning. "Win or lose, I was very proud of how we played and continued to compete hard throughout the course of the day. Coming in, we really felt like we had a good opportunity to come away with two more victories so to end with a split was a little unexpected. It will make things a little more difficult down the stretch but we're more than ready for the challenge."
Trailing 3-0 heading into the top of the sixth, Carroll responded with a clutch, three-run rally to ultimately force extra innings.
Senior shortstop Megan Kohlmetz (Appleton, Wis.) drove in a run on a fielder's choice infield single and freshman third baseman/relief pitcher Lexy Kemnitzer (McFarland, Wis.) tied the contest on a one-out, two-run triple down the right-field line for the Pioneers.
Sophomore right fielder Annika Graves (Muskego, Wis.) had two hits with a double for Carroll, which had six hits in the contest but stranded six baserunners and committed three errors.
"This team never quits, continues to work well together each time we take the field and has the ability to come back at anytime," Gradecki said. "That confidence and trust in one another will only help in the games to come."
Kendall Kehres was the winning pitcher, scattering six hits with three strikeouts and two walks for Wheaton.