NAPERVILLE, Ill. – The Carroll University softball team got back into the win column in CCIW games, sweeping North Central on the road on Friday.
 
GAME 1
The Pioneers (13-18, 5-6 CCIW) racked up 12 hits and Riley Pavelka threw her first career no-hitter to pick up the first win of the day, 4-0.
 
Pavelka went seven innings walking four batters and striking out eight. Lauren Harshbarger had three hits and a run, while Kiana Johnson picked up two RBI on a double. Sydney Raddeman stole two bases while Bridget Rath stole one.
 
The Pios got on the scoreboard immediately, led off by a bunted single by Abby Curtis. Curtis was thrown out on the base paths trying to steal third, but Raddeman and Harshbarger entered scoring position for Johnson's double to center to give Carroll a 2-0 lead. The Cardinals made a pitching change but Regan Goluch singled to center to score Johnson from third. Carroll was held up with the bases loaded in the top of the first but already had a 3-0 lead.
 
Gianna Buske began the top of the sixth with a pinch-hit single to left. An error with two outs let Buske score from third to make it a 4-0 lead.
 
Pavelka allowed one of her four walks in the bottom of the seventh but got the final out on a looking strikeout for the no-no.
 
GAME 2
The Pioneers (14-18, 6-6 CCIW) were down going into the bottom of the sixth inning but put themselves back up to take a 4-2 victory. Andrea Kuhne provided awesome relief and got the victory.
 
Kuhe replaced Grace Bradley who got the start but allowed the two runs by the Cardinals. Kuhne entered and went 2.1 innings allowing no hits, one walk, and struck out three batters. At the plate, Madison Palasz picked up two RBI with a double, while Rath tripled and Johnson had two hits.
 
Carroll scored first in the bottom of the second inning off Buske's single up the middle to score Goluch from second. The Cardinals tied up the game late in the top of the fourth, with a two-out single through the right side. An inning later, North Central took the lead on another two-out single to center field, forcing the change at pitcher for the Pioneers.
 
Carroll's offense finally began to re-take shape in the bottom of the sixth thanks to Rath's leadoff triple to right center. With Rath and Lyndsey Rost on third and second, Palasz's one-out double to left sent both across the plate. Curtis added a security run with an RBI bunt single. Kuhne allowed one runner on in the top of the seventh but struck out two batters to get the win.
 
The Pioneers have Augustana on the schedule this Sunday, April 23 at 1/3 PM in Rock Island, Illinois.