BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Despite a gritty, inspired comeback, the third-seeded Carroll University softball team lost to second-seeded North Central College 7-4 in what proved to be a heart-breaking opening round of the College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin Tournament at Illinois Wesleyan on a sunny Friday afternoon.
It was the first CCIW postseason appearance for Carroll, which dropped to 22-15 overall following the frustrating outcome.
As the game remained tied 4-4 with runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, North Central designated hitter Alexandra Martin hit a three-run walk-off home run to seal a dramatic first-round victory.
The Cardinals, who improved to 30-7 overall, scored three runs in the bottom of the first - scoring twice on RBI singles and as the result of a bases-loaded walk.
North Central added a run on an error in the second to extend the lead to 4-0.
Carroll gradually found its groove and responded with two runs in the top of the fourth, collecting its first run on an RBI single to right field by sophomore designated hitter Ashley McNamara (Batavia, Ill.). Junior catcher Veronica Rodriguez (South Bend, Ind.) scored on an error to round out the key inning.
The Pioneers trimmed the deficit to 4-3 in the fifth on a run-scoring single by Rodriguez and tied the game in the seventh on a momentum-shifting pressure-packed RBI double to left field by sophomore left fielder Rosalie Jrolf (Dousman, Wis.)
Sophomore Lexy Kemnitzer (McFarland, Wis.) went 3-for-4 and scored two runs to pace a nine-hit offensive attack for Carroll. Jrolf added three hits for the Pioneers.
Kemnitzer, a right-hander who came in relief of freshman starter Rachel Piontek (Green Bay, Wis.) in the bottom of the first, pitched the final 6 1/3 innings in taking the loss - yielding three earned runs while scattering seven hits with three strikeouts and one walk.