Peoria, Ill. – The Carroll University softball team collected two wins at the Collegiate Slugger Series hosted by Mount Mary in Peoria, IL on Thursday evening. The Pios defeated the host team Mount Mary by a score of 9-5, and in the second game walloped the Warhawks of UW-Whitewater, 7-1. The Pioneers have won 12 straight games dating back to the end of last season.
 
Kaylee Learman put on a hitting clinic in the dome, going 6-7 with two home runs and seven RBIs. Learman now is tied for third all-time in home runs hit in a career with 10. The Pioneers combined for 25 hits through both games. Grace Bradley picked up her first win of the season, pitching five innings and only allowing one run to the Blue Angels while striking out four. Amanda Osterhus tossed a two hit, 12 strikeout complete game through seven innings against the Warhawks.
 
GAME 1
 
The Pios had to knock the rust off to start the game against Mount Mary, striking out twice in the first inning. Mount Mary Scored in the bottom of the third, but the Pio bats came alive a half-inning later. After Claudia Spencer singled through the left side, Learman launched one to centerfield with her first home run of the season. Shay Dun scored Mathena Higgins on a double to right center to bring the lead to 3-1.
 
The Pios added a whopping five more runs in the top of the fourth, fueled by another RBI hit from Learman, and stolen bases giving runners at third a chance to score. Lauren Harshbarger smoked an RBI double down the left field line to score freshman Madison Palasz, giving the Pios an eight-point advantage in the top of the fifth.
 
Rachel Piontek came in to pitch in the final frame, but allowed a Mount Mary grand slam to cut the lead to 9-5. Bradley returned that inning to get the Pioneers out of a bases loaded jam with a put-out at the plate and a strike out to end the threat.
 
Breanna Roberts finished the game with one inning and two-thirds innings of work, allowing one hit, a walk, but striking out three.
 
GAME 2
 
In game two, the Pioneers poured it on against Whitewater early, scoring three runs in the first inning on three straight singles from Harshbarger, Sierra Grubor, and Spencer. In the third, Spencer scored on an error by third base during Emily Green's at bat. In the fourth, with two on and two out, Kaylee Learman launched her second home run of the day, giving Carroll a 7-1 advantage.
 
Osterhus' run against her was not earned in the second inning but got out of the frame quickly by striking out two. Osterhus pitched nine up and nine down for three innings before walking the first batter of the sixth inning, but a strike out and good defensive plays kept the inning scoreless. Osterhus had at least one strikeout per inning pitched.
 
 
The Pioneers will have some time off before their next game of the year, hosting UW-Oshkosh at Kilgour Field on March 20.