Waukesha, Wis. – The Carroll University softball team battled back to nearly sweep the Illinois Wesleyan Titans, but surrendered the walk-off hit to finish the Sunday series 1-1. Carroll won game one 4-1, and lost game two 4-5 in nine innings.
The Pioneers (15-13, 11-9 CCIW) picked up its first win against the Titans this season and the first since 2018. Carroll smacked 15 total hits for eight runs.
Lauren Harshbarger broke out for four hits, three runs, and two RBI.
Mathena Higgins also added two RBI, while
Bridget Rath scored twice too. Rath and Demma smoked doubles as the two extra-base hits for the day.
Game 1
Carroll got things started in the bottom of third with Harshbarger's leadoff single up the middle. With Harshbarger on third and Higgins on first,
Sierra Grubor reached on a throwing error that went out of play to advance her to second, and Higgins to third, while Harshbarger scored. Learman singled on the first pitch through the left side to score Higgins and to take a 2-0 lead.
The Pioneers picked up two more an inning later with Harshbarger driving in Rath from second. Harshbarger scored after advancing on a passed ball, then a wild pitch. After a four-pitch walk to Higgins and a pitching change, Grubor grounded out to end the inning.
IWU picked up its first hit of the game with a single back to
Amanda Osterhus that left the infield confused on where to go. A single to left field could not be fielded cleanly, allowing runners on second and third. A bases-loaded wild pitch gave the Titans its first run of the game. Osterhus got out of the inning with her third strikeout.
Wesleyan threatened once again with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh after a single through the left side, but Osterhus forced a fly out to center to pick up her ninth win of the season, allowing only five hits, one run, and striking out five. Osterhus completed her eighth complete game in a row in which she started.
Game 2
Demma sent
Kaylee Learman to third base in the top of the first inning after getting hit by a pitch, but Rath's fielder's choice ended the inning catching Demma out at second. The Titans struck first in the bottom of the first with a deep two-run home run to right field.
The Titans led off the bottom of the second with another home run, this time a solo shot to left.
Breanna Roberts, who started the game, was replaced by Bradley. Bradley had a runner on third and forced a line out to third base to get out of the inning down 0-3. Bradley allowed another run after a leadoff double turned into IWU's fourth run of the game. Bradley went on to finish her outing pitching six innings allowing six hits while striking out two.
Carroll, who had only one hit going into the seventh, rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh, starting with Demma's leadoff single, who was pinch ran for by
Lyndsey Rost. Rath followed up with a deep double to left-center to send Rost to third. Harshbarger's second RBI of the day scored Rost, and Rath scored soon after
Megan Funk singled up the middle. Higgins tied the game with a two-RBI single to left field, as Harshbarger scored on a play at the plate. Grubor singled to send Higgins to third, but after the second pitching change of the inning, a ground out ended the inning. The Pioneers ripped off four runs on six hits in the inning.
Carroll threatened to take an extra-inning lead after Demma led off with a double, but three straight outs left her stranded. Osterhus came on in relief of Bradley after allowing a leadoff double. After loading the bases with two outs, Osterhus got the final out of the inning with a strikeout swinging. Wesleyan got the best of Osterhus by allowing the game-winning, walk-off double.
The Pioneers get a bit of a break until Thursday, April 22 when they travel to Wheaton for the series finale with the Thunder.
