ELMHURST, Ill. - Carroll and Elmhurst battled each other in what was essentially the same length as three regulation games Friday afternoon. The Pioneers won both games to earn the sweep, taking the first game 7-3, before winning the second 5-4 in 13 innings, in a game that featured a combined 31 hits.

GAME ONE
Carroll (11-11, 2-0 CCIW) got the scoring started in the top of the first of the opening game, as Abby Curtis scored on a ground-out. After Elmhurst (5-16-1, 2-6 CCIW) tied the score with an RBI single in the bottom of the inning, Carroll took the lead once more with a four-run third, scoring once on an error, and three more times on Val Osthoff's first home run as a Pioneer.

Elmhurst tried to make things interesting with another RBI single in the fifth, but Carroll got that run back in the sixth on an RBI single off the bat of Curtis. Osthoff would also add a run-scoring single in the seventh to secure the victory.

The Pios finished the game with 10 hits, with Kiana Johnson's 3-for-4 effort leading the way. Osthoff and Curtis each finished with two base knocks. Senior Riley Pavelka (6-4) went the distance for the win, allowing one earned run on six hits and striking out seven, while issuing just one walk.

GAME TWO
The day's second game saw Carroll fall behind early, as Elmhurst scored all four of their runs in the top of the first, scoring on an RBI double, a sacrifice fly, and a two-run triple. Carroll would get one of those runs back in the bottom of that inning, as Johnson singled to left center, allowing Gianna Buske to score.

The Pios added another run in the third when Buske scored on an error after a double steal, and they would tie the game at four in the fifth. Osthoff brought Carroll within a run on an RBI double to left center, before Madison Strampe tied the score on a sac fly, which saw Jenna Andler cross the plate.

That is where the score would be stuck for the next seven innings, before Carroll finally ended the marathon of a game when Curtis scored on a fielder's choice with one out in the bottom of the 13th inning.

Carroll finished the contest with 14 hits, led by a 4-for-6 effort from Curtis atop the Pios' lineup. Osthoff added three hits, while Johnson recorded two. Buske scored a team-best two runs in the game. Makayla Wall (5-5) earned the win in the circle, allowing four earned runs and striking out three in 7.1 innings of work. Mya Schneider was solid in relief, pitching 5.2 innings of scoreless ball, while recording one strikeout.

Carroll will be in action again on Sunday in a doubleheader against Augustana (Ill.). Game one of that twin-bill is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. in Rock Island, Ill.