RHINELANDER, Wis. - Carroll softball split its doubleheader with Edgewood on Friday at the Hodag Dome in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, earning a 4–3 victory in the opener before dropping the second game, 7–4.
In game one, Carroll rallied late to overcome an early deficit and secure the walk-off win. Edgewood struck first in the bottom of the first inning and added two more runs in the fourth to build a 3–2 lead heading into the final frame. The Pioneers stayed within striking distance throughout, using steady at-bats and key defensive plays to keep the game close.
Mary Dusza provided an early spark for Carroll with a solo home run in the second inning to tie the game, while Kali Stanchina brought home a run in the third on a groundout to give Carroll a brief 2–1 advantage. After Edgewood reclaimed the lead in the fourth, the Pioneers' pitching staff settled in and held the Eagles scoreless over the final three innings to set the stage for a dramatic finish.
Carroll broke through in the bottom of the seventh. After Kaylee Baker and Gianna Buske worked back-to-back walks, Grace O'Connor delivered the decisive hit, lining a two-run single up the middle to score both runners and give the Pioneers a 4–3 walk-off victory. Makayla Wall earned the win in relief, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings and limiting Edgewood to just one hit over that stretch.
The second game saw Edgewood jump out quickly, scoring four runs in the second inning and three more in the third to take a 7–0 lead. Carroll responded in the fourth, stringing together timely hits to plate three runs. Valerie Osthoff doubled to drive in the first run before Mary Dusza and Gianna Buske followed with RBI singles to cut the deficit to 7–3.
Carroll added another run in the bottom of the seventh when O'Connor again came through with an RBI single, but the early Edgewood lead proved too much to overcome. The Pioneers finished the nightcap with nine hits, including two from Abigail Curtis and Mary Dusza.
Despite the split, Carroll showed resilience throughout the day, highlighting late-game execution and depth in the lineup as the Pioneers continued their early-season schedule.Their next opportunity comes in Florida as they travel for spring break to play an intensive schedule in Winter Haven starting March 7th.