Chicago, Ill. – The Carroll University softball team celebrated the career achievement of 600 strikeouts for Amanda Osterhus on Tuesday in the doubleheader against the University of Chicago. The Pioneers dropped a heartbreaker in game one by a score of 6-7 but got revenge in game two with a 3-2 win in six innings.
 
Osterhus' 600^th strikeout came after her second of the game in the second inning. She is the only Pioneer to reach the milestone of 600 strikeouts and is just the third pitcher among career active leaders in Division III to record 600 K's.  "I had no idea I was close to hitting that mark," said Osterhus "It feels so insane but rewarding to have earned that mark and be celebrated by my teammates. "The support they show me is so unique. They are so selfless and thoughtful…That moment was so special, and I will never forget it." Head Coach Amy Gradecki feels nothing but proud of her ace pitcher "Amanda has been a steady force on the mound ever since she became a Pio. Achieving the 600 strikeout mark is an amazing accomplishment and I am humbled to be able to be there to witness that historic feat. I couldn't be more proud of her and happy for her."
 
The Pioneers (5-7, 1-3 CCIW) were able to put the bat on the ball all day, tallying 14 hits against Maroon pitchers, and recording only four strikeouts a game. Kaylee Learman tallied three hits in both games including an RBI. Mathena Higgins earned two RBIs, while Claudia Spencer and Bridget Rath scored two runs each. Spencer and Learman both recorded doubles, while Higgins, Maria Mundt, Sierra Grubor, and Rath notched stolen bases.
 
Game 1
 
The Pioneers got on the board quickly thanks to Learman's double that scored Grubor from second. Two innings later, the Pios added two more runs off an Allyssa Demma RbI single to score Rath, and a Sydney Raddeman single that scored Lauren Harshbarger.
 
In the fifth inning, Madison Palasz walked to an RBI that scored Spencer, and soon after Higgins ripped a single through the right side to score two more to take a 6-0 lead. Osterhus struck out the side a half-inning later.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Osterhus surrendered the first Maroon run of the game on a bases-loaded single. Osterhus struggled with her control, walking the next two batters to cut the lead to 6-3. Breanna Roberts came on to try and relieve Osterhus, but surrendered two more walks to give Chicago a five-run inning. A strikeout and fouled-out popup ended the inning.
 
After putting a runner on first and second, Osterhus re-entered. Osterhus collected the second out, but three straight walks gave Chicago the walk-off win.
 
Game 2
Carroll quickly brushed off the loss with a Higgins leadoff single, which turned into her scoring on a wild pitch. An inning later, Spencer doubled to left field, and Mundt stole second after a two-out single. A fielding error by third base scored Spencer to give the Pios a 2-0 lead.
 
Grace Bradley, who picked up her third win of the season, surrendered her first unearned run off a fielder's choice a play after a Pio error.
 
The top of the fifth was when the Pios re-secured the lead, with a Rath RBI single to center that scored Lyndsey Rost.
 
Bradley surrendered a hit but, Abby Wimmer threw out the runner trying to advance to second for her second pick off of the game. Bradley forced a ground out to end the game after six innings due to darkness. Bradley recorded her first career complete game going six innings with four hits, no earned runs, two walks, and a career-high five strikeouts.
 
The Pios jump back into CCIW plays on Friday, and return to Kilgour field for the first time since March 20 to host the Elmhurst Bluejays.