]WAUKESHA, Wis. – The Carroll University softball team closed out the 2026 season on Wednesday afternoon with a split against Elmhurst, earning an 8–4 victory in the opening game before taking the finale, 4–3, at Kilgour Field.
Game 1: Carroll 8, Elmhurst 4
Carroll used a balanced offensive effort and timely hitting to secure an 8–4 win in the season opener of the doubleheader, scoring in five different innings to pull away from the Bluejays.
The Pioneers struck early, taking a 2–0 lead in the first inning as Gianna Buske doubled home a run before Grace O'Connor followed with an RBI single. Carroll added single runs in the second and third innings, highlighted by an RBI double from Jennavieve Andler and an RBI single from Madison Hoagland, to build a 4–0 advantage.
Elmhurst responded with a two-run home run in the fourth, but Carroll answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning when O'Connor delivered the game's biggest swing, a three-run home run to right field that pushed the lead to 7–2.
The Bluejays pulled within three with a two-run sixth inning, but Carroll closed out the scoring in the bottom of the frame as Valerie Osthoff drove in another run to seal the win.
O'Connor finished the game 3-for-3 with four RBIs, while Buske, Hoagland, Andler, and Osthoff each collected RBIs. In the circle, Makayla Grantz earned the save after Madelyn Eckl picked up the win in relief.
Game 2: Carroll 4, Elmhurst 3
Carroll closed the 2026 season with a 4–3 victory over Elmhurst in the nightcap, using a decisive four-run third inning and a strong pitching performance to earn the win.
Elmhurst opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the first, but Carroll answered in the bottom of the third with all four of its runs. The inning featured a sacrifice fly from Brenna Borkowski to put the Pioneers on the board, followed by an RBI single from Grace O'Connor to tie the game. Valerie Osthoff then delivered the decisive blow, launching a two-run home run to left field to give Carroll a 4–2 lead.
Elmhurst added a run in the fifth to pull within one, but Carroll pitching held firm the rest of the way. Makayla Wall started the game in the circle, allowing two runs over 1.2 innings, before Mya Schneider took over and earned the win after pitching 5.1 innings and allowing just one run.
Offensively, O'Connor finished with an RBI single, while Osthoff drove in two runs with her home run. Gianna Buske, Madison Hoagland, and Abigail Curtis each reached base and helped set the table during Carroll's four-run frame.
The win completed the final game of the season for the Pioneers, who closed the year battling through conference play and finishing on a high note at home.
