Waukesha, Wis. – The Carroll University softball team fell in back-to-back games against the Millikin Big Blue Saturday afternoon on Carroll's campus. The Pioneers finished with scores of 2-5, and 3-5.
 
The Pioneers (17-15, 13-11 CCIW) stranded 20 batters on base, including 11 in game one. Mathena Higgins and Kaylee Learman both combined for three hits on the day, with Higgins collecting an RBI and a run in the process. Bridget Rath continued to have a hot bat, reaching base for the 16^th consecutive game, and extending her hitting streak to 14 games. Allyssa Demma notched another double to her season total as well.
 
Game 1
The Pioneers jumped out early with Higgins leading off with a single through the left side. Learman scored Higgins from second base, to take a 1-0 lead. An inning later, Claudia Spencer singled to center field after an eight-pitch at-bat. Maria Mundt advanced her to second on a SAC bunt, and Higgins brought her in with a single up the middle.
 
After retiring six-straight in the first two innings, Amanda Osterhus walked or hit the next five straight batters to tie the ball game 2-2. Breanna Roberts came on in relief with the bases loaded. Roberts allowed two singles and a fielder's choice to allow three more runs to score. Roberts struck out the next batter and forced a ground out to end the inning. Osterhus was given those five earned runs for loading the bases prior. Roberts went on to pitch five innings, striking out five and allowing only two hits.
 
The Pioneers put runners on base every inning after but were unable to get any more runs across. In the bottom of the fifth, with runners on third and second, and two outs, a strikeout ended the rally opportunity. Learman and Demma ended up on second and third, but the Pios recorded three-straight outs to end the game.
 
Game 2
The Big Blue quickly jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first off of Grace Bradley. Bradley only lasted one full inning allowing three runs on three hits. Roberts replaced her to start the second inning.
 
Carroll got two runs back in the bottom half of the inning off a lead-off walk by Higgins, a Sierra Grubor single, and a Learman single. Rath reached on an error by third base to score Higgins, and Harshbarger walked after five pitches to score Grubor. Carroll left three runners on base to end the inning two at-bats later.
 
Carroll tied up the game at 3-3 after some smart base running from Lyndsey Rost, who was posted at third for Demma.
Millikin broke the tie in the top of the fifth after a double to center scored the leadoff runner who walked. Roberts stranded the runner to end the inning. Millikin gave themselves a security run in the top of the seventh after a home run to center field. The Big Blue retired the Carroll side in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.
 
Carroll hosts Augustana on Sunday afternoon to celebrate senior day. The Pios swept Augie earlier this season down in Rock Island.