WAUKESHA, Wis. - Madison Wagner's first collegiate home run was a memorable one.
Wagner, an aggressive right-handed hitting 5-foot-4 freshman shortstop from Harrison, Wis., blasted a towering two-run homer over the fence in deep center field to ignite what became a decisive three-run bottom of the first inning and lead the Carroll University softball team to a 7-1 victory over North Park University in a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin home opener at Kilgour Field on Saturday afternoon.
It was the third consecutive victory for Carroll, which improved to 1-2 in the conference standings and 13-9 overall. 
"It was so special to hit my first collegiate home run on our home field and the feeling really is indescribable," said a smiling Wagner, who was hitting in the No. 3-spot of the lineup and went 2-for-3 with four RBIs in making her home-field debut with the Pioneers. "I really wasn't looking for any certain pitch. It was more like a meatball over the heart of the plate so I just took a hard swing and went after it. At first, I really didn't feel the ball hit the bat but it was amazing to watch it take off and see it go flying. 
"I've been in a slump so it felt good to break out of it with a big hit early in the game. Rounding the bases, it was really cool looking up and seeing all of my teammates waiting at home plate. They've been a huge support system for me so it meant a lot. It was great to hit the home run but to have it come in our first conference victory made it even better. It was just an awesome experience.
"We're starting to really come together as a team so this victory should give us a lot of confidence moving forward."
Senior catcher Veronica Rodriguez (South Bend, Ind.) had an RBI single to round out the critical first-inning spree.
Senior right fielder Annika Graves (Muskego, Wis.), who went 4-for-4, and Wagner each delivered run-scoring singles in the second to extend the lead to 5-0.
The Pioneers, who amassed 10 hits with the confidence-building performance in front of the large, enthusiastic crowd of spectators, added a run in the fourth on an RBI sacrifice fly to center field by Wagner.
North Park trimmed the deficit to 6-1 in the top of the sixth on a run-scoring single by junior shortstop Hayley Jackson.
Freshman center fielder Sierra Grubor (Milwaukee, Wis.) drove in Carroll's final run on a ground out in the sixth.
Junior right-hander Amanda Osterhus (Munster, Ind.) was the winning pitcher, not yielding a hit or run with five strikeouts and no walks through three complete innings.
Longtime Carroll softball fan Marci Gradecki, 94-year-old mother of head coach Amy Gradecki, threw out the ceremonial first pitch during the special pregame festivities.