CHICAGO, Ill. - Junior catcher Veronica Rodriguez (South Bend, Ind.) went 2-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs to lead the Carroll University softball team to an 8-0 six-inning victory over North Park University in the first game of a cold, windy College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin doubleheader at Holmgren Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon.
It was the conference opener for Carroll, which earned its fourth shutout of the season and improved to 11-8 overall.
Rodriguez delivered what became the decisive hit on a two-out bases-loaded double to left center field to drive in three runs in the top of the first inning. 
On the game-winning hit, Rodriguez nailed the 3-1 pitch to left center field to drive in freshman designated player Allyssa Demma (Orland Park, Ill.), sophomore third baseman Lexy Kemnitzer (McFarland, Wis.) and sophomore left fielder Rosalie Jrolf (Dousman, Wis.).
Rodriguez followed with a towering two-run homer over the left field fence in the fifth for the Pioneers, who collected eight hits and didn't commit an error.
Carroll added three runs on three hits in the sixth on a one-out two-run single to center field by Jrolf and an RBI single from junior first baseman Kelsey Edwards (Rockford, Ill.).
Sophomore right-hander Amanda Osterhus (Munster, Ind.) pitched a two-hitter with eight strikeouts and two walks to earn a complete-game victory.
Osterhus, who improved to 6-4 overall, had a no-hitter working through the first four innings before yielding a one-out single to left field by junior first baseman Amara Leith in the fifth.