WAUKESHA, Wis. - Senior right fielder Annika Graves (Muskego, Wis.) went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and scored a run as the Carroll University softball team lost to Wheaton College 7-3 in the finale of a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin doubleheader at Kilgour Field on Saturday afternoon.
It was the first home-field conference loss of the season for Carroll, which dropped to 7-3 to remain tied for second in the highly contested league standings and 21-12 overall. 
Sixth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan is in first place (10-0), North Central and Carroll are second (7-3), Carthage is third (6-4) with Augustana and Wheaton following in a tie for fourth (7-7) in the race to secure the top four spots in the upcoming CCIW Tournament.
The Pioneers, who are seeking their second consecutive CCIW Tournament berth, have three conference doubleheaders remaining on the regular-season schedule, including a road matchup with Carthage (April 23) and back-to-back home showdowns versus Millikin (April 27) and Illinois Wesleyan (April 28).
Graves, who currently has a blazing .434 batting average with 46 hits on the season and 150 for her memorable four-year career, became the program's all-time hits leader in a 4-1 road victory over Elmhurst in the finale of a CCIW doubleheader on April 13th. The milestone 143rd hit came on a single to left field in the bottom of the sixth, breaking the former record of 142 established by former standout Hannah Sanidas in 2014.
Carroll led 3-2 but yielded three critical runs in what became a decisive bottom of the fifth and two in the sixth.
Junior left fielder Rosalie Jrolf (Dousman, Wis.) delivered a run-scoring single in the top of the first and Graves followed with a two-run single in the second for the Pioneers, who finished with eight hits but stranded six baserunners and committed an uncharacteristic three errors.
Senior right-hander Kelly Thornton was the winning pitcher, allowing three earned runs on eight hits with one strikeout and two walks to earn a complete-game victory for Wheaton, which improved to 16-18 overall.
Freshman right-hander Kaylee Learman (Greenwood, Wis.) took the pitching loss, allowing two earned runs on four hits with one strikeout and one walk through 1 2/3 innings after entering the game in relief of junior right-hander Amanda Osterhus (Munster, Ind.) with one out in the third.
"Wheaton is a good opponent, has been really playing well this year and it all came down to a few miscues," said Carroll head coach Amy Gradecki, who has guided the program to back-to-back 20-victory seasons and four in the last five years. "When we fell behind, it became very difficult to come back on a team that capitalized on those opportunities, took advantage of the momentum and built a lead. 
"At this point, the conference race is wide open so our main goal is to get into the top four and advance to the CCIW Tournament. With the caliber of teams on our schedule and in the conference, a 20-win season is a great accomplishment but we have more work to do in the games to come. 
"We have a really good team full of great hitters, strong young talent and a capable, experienced upper class. I hope they can bounce back and come through when they need to in the biggest games of the season."