Decatur, Ill. – The Carroll University softball team fell in the CCIW Softball Tournament consolation semi-finals to the fifth-seeded North Central Cardinals on Friday afternoon. The Pioneers fell in likely their final contest of the season, 0-3.
 
The Pioneers (23-21, 17-15 CCIW) finished the game with seven hits and a walk, but none of the runners were able to reach home. The Pios placed runners on base in six of seven innings. Sierra Grubor finished 3-4 at the plate, tying Kaylee Learman's newly set hits in a single-season record with 57. The Pioneers struggled in the field, amassing five errors throwing and catching the ball. Starting pitcher Grace Bradley finished with the loss, pitching 7.0 innings allowing six hits, just one earned run, walking one, and striking out three.
 
North Central jumped on the board first with a deep infield single, that scored the speedy base runner, and newcomer of the year, Katie Del Re from second. North Central added to their lead two innings later in the top of the fifth, after an unearned run scored on an RBI single.
 
The Pioneers had opportunities to score, including in the bottom of the fifth. Grubor reached on a single to left field and reached second on a ground out from Learman. Madison Palasz, who entered the game in the second inning for Allyssa Demma, grounded out to end the inning.
 
The Cardinals picked up a security run in the top of the seventh, as Del Re scored again off a single down the left-field line to make the score 3-0. Bridget Rath led off the bottom of the seventh with a single up the middle. Mathena Higgins reached base on a fielder's choice, forcing Rath out at second. Sierra Grubor had the chance to extend the inning but was called out for stepping out of the batter's box.
 
This was the deepest run the Pioneers have had in program history in the CCIW Tournament.