ELMHURST, ILL. – The Carroll University softball team avoided the sweep from the Elmhurst Bluejays on Thursday afternoon, winning in game two in walk-off fashion.
GAME 1
The Pioneers (7-12, 0-3 CCIW) couldn't hold off the Bluejay batters, falling 2-6 in game one. The Pios went with three pitchers, but
Andrea Kuhne received credit for the loss.
Kuhne started the game and went three innings allowing five hits and four earned runs, but struck out three batters in the process.
Breanna Roberts and
Grace Bradley provided relief in the fourth through the sixth inning. At the plate,
Abby Curtis led the group with three hits and a run, while
Kiana Johnson recorded two hits in three at-bats with a double. While on base three times, Curtis recorded three stolen bases.
The Pios began the game with a 1-0 lead with the help of a fielding error to leave
Lauren Harshbarger on base. Johnson singled up the middle as Harshbarger scored from second. The Pios added one more run in the top of the third, with Curtis scoring on a Harshbarger sacrifice fly to center field.
Kuhne held off the Bluejays through two full innings but allowed a three RBI triple in the bottom of the third as Elmhurst took a 4-2 lead. Carroll threatened in the top of the fifth with runners on second and third but nothing came of the RISP.
Elmhurst got ahold of Roberts in the bottom of the sixth, adding two more runs to their total. Bradley stepped in and recorded three straight outs to get Carroll out of the jam. Curtis reached base and stole second in their final inning, but the Bluejays held the Pios scoreless.
GAME 2
The Pioneers (8-12, 1-3 CCIW) were down to their final two outs before recording all five of their hits and all four of their runs in the bottom of the seventh to take game two from Elmhurst, 4-3.
Reagan Goluch sent in
Antoinette Napoli with a single to win the game, after the Pioneers were no-hit by the Bluejays for 6.1 innings.
Bradley got the start, the win, and the complete game added to her season stats. Bradley struck out three while allowing eight hits and three runs over 97 pitches.
Brianna Rivera and
Madison Palasz also provided the necessary RBIs during the final inning.
Elmhurst began working quickly against Bradley, scoring off an RBI double with two outs in the top of the first. Bradley would hold off more runs in the top of the second and kept the Pios within one up until the top of the seventh. The Bluejays added two runs on an RBI single with one out.
Harshbarger led off the final inning but flew out to left field. Johnson singled to right center to snap the no-no, and the Elmhurst wheels fell off.
Bridget Rath, who had reached base earlier after being hit by a pitch, singled to send Johnson to second. Rivera put one down the right field line to clear the bases and put Carroll within one.
Palasz grounded out to shortstop as the Pios came down to their final out, but Kaitlin Reed scored on the play, running in place for Rivera. On the first pitch of her at-bat, Goluch sent one back up the middle to score Napoli from second base.
Carroll will finally open up Kilgour Field on Saturday, April 8 against North Park with a 1 PM first pitch.
