ROSEMONT, Ill. - Sophomore pinch hitter Kelsey Edwards (Rockford, Ill.) and senior left fielder Kara McCaughrean (Woodstock, Ill.) each drove in a run in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Carroll University softball team wrapped up the season with a hard-fought 3-2 loss to Elmhurst College in a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin finale Monday afternoon.
Originally scheduled to be played outside at Salt Creek Park in Elmhurst, Ill., the game was moved indoors to Dome at the Ballpark because of forecasted wet weather.
It was the ninth consecutive loss for the young, scrappy Pioneers, who finished 6-10 in the highly contested league standings and 15-21 overall.
Carroll, which  lost six conference games by a one-run margin this season, ended the year in sole possession of sixth place.
Millikin (14-2),  Carthage (12-4) and Illinois Wesleyan (11-5) claimed the top three spots in this weekend's prestigious, four-team CCIW tournament. North Central (8-6) and Elmhurst (8-8) remain in contention for the final spot with two games remaining in the 16-game regular season.
Elmhurst collected its first two runs in the top of the first inning as senior right fielder Lauren Rismondo delivered an RBI ground-rule double and later scored on a fielding error.
The Bluejays added what proved to be the winning run on an RBI sacrifice bunt by junior second baseman Erin Steik in the seventh.
Carroll responded with a two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh, including an RBI fielder's choice by Edwards and a run-scoring single to left field from McCaughrean.
With momentum on its side and the potential winning run on first with one out, the Pioneers' season ended on a double play.
McCaughrean and senior pitcher Hannah Miller (Chicago, Ill.) each went 2-for-3 to power a seven-hit offensive attack for Carroll. Senior first baseman Kelly Strasser (Waterford, Wis.), sophomore right fielder Annika Graves (Muskego, Wis.) and freshman designated player Ashley McNamara (Batavia, Ill.) each added a hit.
Senior right-hander Stefanie Sanidas was the winning pitcher, allowing two earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and no walks through 6 1/3 innings. Freshman left-hander Emily Despain earned a save for the Bluejays.
Miller, a right-hander, yielded two earned runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and three walks in taking a complete-game loss for Carroll.
It was the final game for McCaughrean, Miller, Strasser and fellow seniors Laura-Lynn Schenk (Kenosha, Wis.), Megan Kohlmetz (Appleton, Wis.) and Alyson Gartland (Fort Atkinson, Wis.).