CLERMONT, Fla. - The Carroll University softball team lost to Keene State 4-3 in a hard-fought nail-biter to cap its first day of the PFX Spring Games at Hancock Park on Saturday afternoon.
It was the second straight close loss of the day for Carroll, which dropped to 2-4 overall.
Tied 3-3 after six complete innings, Keene State scored the winning run on an RBI double by senior third baseman Shae Crosby in the top of the seventh.
Crosby went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and scored a run for Keene State, which overcame a 3-1 deficit en route to improving to 2-7 overall. Freshman right-hander Issie Pratt was the winning pitcher, yielding no runs on three hits with three walks over the final four innings.
Carroll collected the first run of the game in the bottom of the first as junior right fielder Annika Graves (Muskego, Wis.) scored on an RBI sacrifice bunt by freshman third baseman Allyssa Demma (Orland Park, Ill.).
Keene tied the contest in the top of third on a run-scoring single to center field by Crosby.
Sophomore pitcher Lexy Kemnitzer (McFarland, Wis.), who went 2-for-2 to help pace a seven-hit attack for Carroll, hit a two-run home run to center field in the fourth to regain a 3-1 lead.
Senior designated player Olivia Indorf had a two-run single to left field as Keene fought back to tie the game 3-3 in the top of the fifth - setting the stage for the game-winning hit.
Sophomore left fielder Rosalie Jrolf (Dousman, Wis.) went 3-for-3 and junior catcher Veronica Rodriguez (South Bend, Wis.) added two hits for Carroll, which stranded eight baserunners.
Kemnitzer, a right-hander, scattered eight hits with three strikeouts and two walks in taking a complete-game loss.