NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The Carroll University softball team lost to high-powered North Central College 13-2 in the first game of cool, sunny College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin doubleheader at Shanower Family Field on Sunday afternoon.
It was the conference opener for Carroll, which dropped to 10-8 overall.
The game was limited to five innings as the 10-run mercy rule was enforced.
North Central, which improved to 13-2 overall and entered the contest hovering just out of the Top 25, scored five unanswered runs in what became a decisive bottom of the first inning.
Sophomore catcher Jaime Smith went 2-for-4 with a grand slam to power a 13-hit offensive attack for the Cardinals, who finished second in the league standings and advanced to their sixth-straight CCIW Tournament in 2018.
Senior right fielder Annika Graves (Muskego, Wis.) scored on an error in the top of the fourth and freshman pinch-hitter Madison Wagner (Harrison, Wis.) delivered an RBI double in the fifth for Carroll. 
Sophomore right-hander Samantha Gadomski pitched a two-hitter, allowing one earned run with one strikeout and one walk in going the distance for North Central
Freshman right-hander Ellie Egyed (Oregon, Ill.) took the loss.