CHICAGO, Ill. - The Carroll University softball team defeated North Park University 4-1 in the finale of a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin doubleheader at Holmgren Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon.
The victory completed a sweep for Carroll, which improved to 2-0 in the conference standings and 12-8 overall.
The Pioneers scored three unanswered runs in what proved to be a decisive first inning.
Sophomore pitcher Lexy Kemnitzer (McFarland, Wis.) delivered a two-out run-scoring double to right center field to ignite the spree for Carroll, which collected nine hits. Sophomore left fielder Rosalie Jrolf (Dousman, Wis.) followed with an RBI single to left center field and junior catcher Veronica Rodriguez (South Bend, Ind.) had a run-scoring single to center field.
Freshman shortstop Jordan Wermund (Stevensville, Mich.) scored the final run in the fifth as the result of a bases-loaded walk.
Kemnitzer, a right-hander, earned a complete-game victory to improve to 6-3 overall - scattering six hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
Junior first baseman Amara Leith had an RBI single in th sixth for North Park, which dropped to 1-3 in conference and  7-17 overall.