WAUKESHA, Wis. - Carroll's softball team faced a tough Illinois Wesleyan team Saturday afternoon, as the Titans entered the doubleheader in first place and undefeated in the conference standings. The Pios dropped the first game by a score of 11-1, before losing the nightcap 9-1, both of which ended in six innings.
GAME ONE
The day's first game saw Illinois Wesleyan (27-7, 12-0 CCIW) smack five home runs. A pair of solo homers put the Titans on the board in the second inning, before adding another solo shot in the third, which was followed by a two-run homer to put IWU up 5-0.
Carroll's lone run came in the bottom of the third when
Abby Curtis scored on a ground-out. Illinois Wesleyan would get that run back in the fifth on Bella Pinter's second home run of the day. The Titans then added a pair of RBI singles in the sixth to end the game.
Carroll (13-21, 4-10 CCIW) recorded seven hits in the game, with Buske going 3-for-3 at the plate, and Curtis adding two base knocks.
Val Osthoff and
Madison Hoagland recorded the team's other two hits. Illinois Wesleyan recorded 13 hits in the game.
GAME TWO
The day's second game saw the Titans strike first once again, breaking a scoreless tie in the second on an RBI double to left center and a run-scoring single down the left field line. Carroll's lone run came in the fourth, cutting that lead in half on an RBI double off the bat of
Kiana Johnson.
Illinois Wesleyan got some breathing room in the bottom of the fourth, scoring on a wild pitch and a two-run single. The Titans added another RBI single in the fifth, before ending the game with an RBI double and a two-run single in the sixth.
Both of Carroll's hits in the game came off the bat of Johnson, who went 2-for-2 at the dish.
Carroll enters Sunday's final day of the regular season still vying for the final spot in the CCIW Tournament. The Pios must win one more game than Wheaton on Sunday to finish ahead of the Thunder for the sixth and final playoff spot. The Pioneers will battle Millikin in a doubleheader at Noon from Kilgour Field in Waukesha, Wis.
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