Decatur, Ill. – The Carroll University Pioneer softball team never led in the opening round game of the CCIW Softball Tournament, hosted at Millikin. The fourth-seeded Pioneers went to battle with the fifth-seeded North Central Cardinals but were defeated 0-6.
 
The Pioneers (21-20, 17-15 CCIW) tallied just five hits, and could not get any runs around. Sierra Grubor, Allyssa Demma, Bridget Rath, Abby Wimmer, and Maria Mundt tallied all five Pio hits. Carroll grounded out eleven times, flew out eight, and only struck out once all game.
 
Amanda Osterhus started her 21^st game of the season but opened up the game with three straight walks to load the bases. Osterhus was quickly pulled and replaced with Breanna Roberts, who struck out the next two batters she saw. Robert's third batter faced hit a deep fly ball to right-center for a grand slam and to take a 4-0 lead. Roberts struck out the final batter to get out of the inning.
 
After a single in the top of the third, North Central's Pitcher Adams homered to right-center, making the Cardinal lead 6-0. A walk and a double later, Roberts was replaced with Grace Bradley. Bradley went on to close out the game, pitching 4.2 innings allowing just three hits and striking out five.
 
Demma singled to right-center with one out in the bottom of the fourth. Rath singled the next at-bat, advancing to second and sending Demma to third. Demma was caught in a pickle trying to decide if she should take off for home on Lauren Harshbarger's fielder's choice, and Claudia Spencer flew out the next at-bat later to end the inning. The Pioneers left one stranded in the bottom of the fifth but went six up, six down to end the game.
 
Carroll will play the loser of Augustana and Millikin on Saturday, May 8 at 12 PM in Decatur, Ill. The winner will advance to the second weekend of the CCIW Softball Tournament next Thursday, May 13.