ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - Carroll's softball team battled Augustana (IL) closely in Sunday's doubleheader, but Augustana would score two runs in the seventh inning in both games, which proved to be the difference, as the Vikings won the first 4-3 in a walk-off, and the second by a score of 5-3.

GAME ONE
Augustana (18-4, 6-2 CCIW) got the scoring started in the opening game, scoring on a ground-out in the bottom of the second. Carroll (11-13, 2-2 CCIW) then took their first lead of the day in the third on a two-run single to right field by MK Dusza. Val Osthoff added an RBI single in the fifth, but Augie scored on a single in the bottom of that frame to cut the lead to 3-2 entering the seventh.

In that final inning, Augustana tied the game at three on a double to left center, allowing a run to score which reached base on a third strike. One batter later, the Vikings ended the game with a two-out double to centerfield.

Carroll finished the game with seven hits, with Valsthoff and Addison Leck leading the way with two hits apiece. Gianna Buske scored two of the three runs for the Pioneers. Riley Pavelka and Makayla Wall each struck out three batters in the circle, while each also allowed two earned runs.

GAME TWO
The day's second game was also tightly contested, with Carroll striking first in the bottom of the first on RBI by Osthoff and Dusza. Augustana matched the Pios with two runs in the second, scoring on an RBI double and a sac fly. Carroll would take the lead once more in the fourth when Buske drove in a run with a single to center, but an Augustana RBI single in the fifth tied things up once more.

That set the stage for Augie's heroics in the seventh. They took the lead on an RBI double, before adding an insurance run with a sac fly. Carroll would get two runners into scoring position in the bottom of the seventh, but they would be stranded when the final out was recorded.

Carroll finished the game with eight hits, with Osthoff and Abby Curtis leading the way with two apiece. Wall and Pavelka each saw action in the pitching circle once again, combining to allow five earned runs and strike out three batters.

The Pios will be in action again on Wednesday when they'll travel to Carthage College. That doubleheader will begin at 3 p.m. in Kenosha, Wis.