WAUKESHA, Wis. - Despite a valiant attempt to rally in the seventh inning, the Carroll University softball team lost to No. 22-ranked North Central College 6-4 in the finale of a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin doubleheader at Kilgour Field on Tuesday evening.
It was only the third conference loss of the season for Carroll, which dropped 9-3 in the league standings and 21-11 overall after splitting the twin bill.
The Pioneers, who are currently in sole possession of second place, remained in contention for the regular-season title and a potential berth in the upcoming CCIW Tournament with four games remaining.
North Central, which improved to 8-4 in league and 24-6 overall, scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first on an RBI groundout by first baseman Samantha Phelps.
The Cardinals followed with five runs in what proved to be the decisive second.
Carroll scored its first run in the top of the second inning on an RBI groundout by sophomore designated hitter Ashley McNamara (Batavia, Ill.).
Junior right fielder Annika Graves (Muskego, Wis.) delivered a run-scoring double in the third as Carroll trimmed the deficit to 6-2.
The Pioneers added two runs in the fifth, including RBI groundouts by sophomore left fielder Rosalie Jrolf (Dousman, Wis.) and sophomore third baseman/relief pitcher Lexy Kemnitzer, but couldn't get any closer.
Trailing 6-4 with runners on second and third and two outs in the seventh, junior first baseman Kelsey Edwards (Rockford, Ill.) hit a hard, high-line drive for what appeared to be a game-tying single but the ball was caught by Phelps to end the game.
Freshman right-hander Rachel Piontek (Green Bay, Wis.) took the loss, allowing six earned runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts and two walks through four complete innings.
"We put ourselves in good position to win the game but they just made a nice play at the end," Carroll head coach Amy Gradecki said. "Win or lose, we continue to do the right things in order to be successful and maintain a positive approach each time we step on the field. With runners in scoring position, Kelsey (Edwards) picked a good pitch, hit it toward the right area of the field and the ball was about a foot away from making it over the first baseman to potentially tie the game. It was just an example of how we truly believe that we can win every game and battle the entire way.
"Even though it didn't work out in our favor, I wasn't disappointed in the least because we played hard from start to finish. There were a lot of positives so we will continue to build on the experience as we move forward . With four games remaining, it's exciting to be in the thick of the conference race. Hopefully, we can make the most of the situation and play our best down the stretch."