The Carthage College softball team (13-8, 5-3 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) split a Sunday, April 18 doubleheader with CCIW-opponent Augustana College (Ill., 22-9, 4-4 CCIW at the Carthage Softball Field in Kenosha, Wis. 

Carthage won the opening game, 5-2, but fell in the nightcap by a 3-2 margin. In the first game, Augustana (Ill.) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a solo home run by Karlee Quartisch. The Lady Reds came right back with two runs in the bottom half on a two-run double by Alyssa Schrader. Carthage went up, 4-1, in the third on a two-run double by Jenny Burke. The Vikings cut the lead to 4-2 in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Meli Nelson. The Lady Reds closed out the scoring with a run in the fifth on an RBI-single by Stephanie Hueramo. Pitcher Kelsey Epping (9-2) allowed two runs on eight hits and no walks over seven innings, while striking out 11 batters. Erica Aten (5-1) took the loss. Alyssa Schrader went two-for-four with two RBI.

 

In the nightcap, Augustana took a 1-0 lead in the second on a fielder's choice-RBI off the bat of Christina Trojanowski. The Lady Reds had the bases loaded in the second and failed to push a run across, Carthage tied the game, 1-1, in the third on an RBI-single by Stephanie Noel. Carthage had Jacquelyn Tassone on third base with one out in the fifth but came up empty. The Vikings took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run double by Dawn Kernich. The Lady Reds closed to within a run, 3-2, in the sixth on a run-scoring single by Jenny Burke. Rachel Perry (3-1), in relief of Sheldon Ritzmeimer, picked up the win. Perry allowed one run on one hit and four walks over the final three innings. Krystina Leazer (4-2) took the loss. Leazer allowed three runs, just one earned, on six hits and no walks. Jenny Burke went two-for-three with an RBI for Carthage. 

The Lady Reds play host to CCIW-opponent and No. 17 North Central College (24-6, 6-2 CCIW) on Tuesday, April 20 in a 3 p.m. doubleheader, also at the Carthage Softball Field.