DECATUR, Ill. - The Carroll University softball team lost to Millikin University 15-2 in five innings to cap a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin doubleheader at Workman Family Field on Wednesday afternoon.
It was the season finale for Carroll, which finished 8-8 in the highly contested conference standings and 22-17 overall with the twin-bill split.
The game was limited to five innings as the 10-run mercy rule was enforced.
Millikin, which ended the season 8-8 in league and 26-12 overall, scored five runs in the decisive bottom of the second inning, one in the third and nine in the fourth.
Freshman designated hitter/relief pitcher Kaylee Learman (Greenwood, Wis.) hit a solo home run in the top of the second - her team-leading fifth of the season - and sophomore third baseman Allyssa Demma (Orland Park, Ill.) followed with an RBI single to center field in the fifth for Carroll, which generated just three hits and committed three errors.
Bailey Gowin went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and drove in a run to lead Millikin, which finished with 11 hits in the contest.
Aly Armstrong pitched a three-hitter with seven strikeouts and one walk through five complete innings to earn the victory.
Junior right-hander Amanda Osterhus (Munster, Ind.) took the loss, allowing five earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and one walk and a hit batsman through 2 1/3 innings.
It was the final collegiate game for Carroll seniors Annika Graves (Muskego, Wis.), Maggie Erdman (Jefferson, Wis.), Kelsey Edwards (Rockford, Ill.) and Veronica Rodriguez (South Bend, Ind.).