Kenosha, Wis. – The Carroll University softball team started the season series with Carthage College in a 1-1 split. The Pioneers took a demanding 8-3 win in game one, but could only supply one run in game two, falling 1-3.
The Pioneers (19-17, 15-13 CCIW) continue to hit the ball well, tallying 20 total hits with 12 coming from game one.
Kaylee Learman smashed another home run, moving her season total to seven. Learman also finished five hits, a double, a run, and four RBI.
Mathena Higgins was responsible for three runs in game one, while Mundt scored twice. Higgins, Mundt, and
Lyndsey Rost all stole bases. Carroll had some issues fielding, tallying five errors through two games.
Game 1
The Pioneers had a chance to put up a score right out of the gate, as Sierra Gurbor, Learman, and
Allyssa Demma all reached to load the bases. Two straight outs ended the chance. An inning later, Grubor got her chance to score runs with a two-out RBI single to left field scoring
Claudia Spencer. Learman followed up with a single up the middle to make it a 2-0 ballgame.
With two on in the top of the fourth and two outs, Learman launched her seventh home run of the season to left-center to make it a 5-0 Pioneer lead.
Carthage got two back in the bottom of the fifth off of a two-out error in the field.
Amanda Osterhus struck out the next batter for out number three. All three runs were unearned in this game, giving Osterhus a 0.00 ERA for game one. She finished with seven strikeouts and two walks through seven complete.
Carroll extended the lead to 8-2 on a stolen base by Mundt, which forced the catcher to throw down to second, scoring Rost from third. Demma tallied another hit to score Higgins and Mundt on a 2 RBI single.
Carthage threatened once more in the bottom of the seventh, as a run scored on a throwing error with two outs. Spencer, who recorded the error, redeemed herself by catching the final out via popup.
Game 2
Carthage came back with a vengeance in game two, picking up two runs off four hits on
Grace Bradley. Bradley would exit after putting two batters on in the top of the second.
Breanna Roberts replaced her, but two runs were allowed and credited to Bradley in the loss.
Carroll responded with
Abby Wimmer's single to score Rath from second base in the bottom of the second. The Pioneers had another opportunity to score in the bottom of the third, with the bases loaded with one out. A play at the plate to get Grubor out at home and a strikeout an at-bat later ended the inning.
The Firebirds tacked on one more run late in the top of the fifth after a leadoff double scored on two consecutive ground outs. The Pioneers were unable to put anyone on base the final two innings of work.
Carthage and Carroll will soon meet again, with the Pioneers hosting on Friday, April 30 at Kilgour Field for the final regular-season games at the venue this season.
