KENOSHA, Wis. – In their first two CCIW games of the 2023 season, the Carroll University softball team fell in both contests with the Carthage College Firebirds.
 
GAME 1
The Pioneers (7-10, 0-1 CCIW) leveled the game but couldn't tack on any more towards the end of the run, falling 1-4 in the first game against the Firebirds. Grace Bradley went six innings to take the loss.
 
Bradley was credited with all four runs but fanned three batters in 27 batters faced. Four Pioneer hits were tallied all from different players. Sydney Raddeman hit the lone RBI while Mathena Higgins scored the run. Abby Curtis, Lauren Harshbarger, and Raddeman all recorded stolen bases.
 
The Pios began the game strong, putting Curtis and Harshbarger on second and third with no outs. Curtis was out at home trying to score on a ground ball and another ground out ended the Pios' chances.
 
Carthage took advantage early and scored on the third at-bat of their inning. The Pioneers leveled the contest in the top of the third thanks in part to three fielding errors by Carthage. Carthage got revenge in the bottom half of the third and didn't surrender their lead the rest of the outing. Carthage added security in the bottom of the sixth to make the top of the seventh more challenging for Carroll.
 
GAME 2
The Pioneers (7-11, 0-2 CCIW) gained an early lead and held on to force extra innings, but fell in the 8^th inning, 1-4. Riley Pavelka took the loss surrendering 10 hits in eight innings.
 
Pavelka fanned five batters, but surrendered 10 hits to the Firebirds who scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning. Bridget Rath went 2-3 with a walk while Harshbarger scored Carroll's run. The Pios had two extra-base hits and had seven hits in the contest.
 
Carroll put a run on the board in the third inning off of Carthage's new pitcher who entered the game. Harshbarger smacked a double to left, and Raddeman followed her up with a double to center to swap places. Pavleka kept the Pioneers up one for two more innings but allowed one run to get across in the top of the sixth to tie the game. The Pioneers had a look in the bottom of the sixth but couldn't get movement home.
 
In extras, Carthage laid on three runs to take a 4-1 lead. Down to their final out, Kiana Johnson and Rath both singled to put runners on, but they were left stranded one at-bat later.
 
Carroll will hit the road again this Wednesday, April 5 for a 3/5 PM double header at Elmhurst.