Millikin 3, Carthage 2
Millikin 3, Carthage 2
The Carthage College softball team (13-11, 4-2 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) lost an opportunity to take charge of the CCIW softball race on Saturday, April 9 by losing both ends of a doubleheader to Millikin University (15-5, 5-1 CCIW), 3-2 and 3-2, at the Carthage Softball Field in Kenosha, Wis. The two losses dropped the Lady Reds from first place to third in the league standings.
In the opener, Millikin pitcher Whitney Schafman (6-4) out-dueled Carthage's Krystina Leazer (So., Des Plaines, Ill./Elk Grove, 11-4). Schafman allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits and two walks, while Leazer surrendered three runs on five hits and no walks, while striking out 12 batters. The Big Blue scored in the third inning on an RBI-triple by Cora Jeffers. Millikin's Colleen Bryan hit a solo home run in the fourth, and Jeffers delivered a solo shot in the sixth. The Lady Reds scored an unearned run in the fifth, and Stephanie Schafer singled home a run in the sixth. Vicki Pyan (Fr., Crystal Lake, Ill./South) and Katie Paulmeyer (So., Alsip, Ill./Chicago-Marist) each had two hits for Carthage.
In the nightcap, Millikin struck for three runs in the second inning off starting pitcher Alyssa Sirocchi (Fr., Oak Creek, Wis., 0-2). Ally Edwards had the big blow in the second with a three-run home run. Carthage got two runs back in the seventh on a solo homer by Alyssa Schrader (Jr., Plainfield, Ill./South) and an RBI-single by Katie Paulmeyer. The Lady Reds had two runners on base, but Big Blue starting pitcher Lauren Kitterman (8-1) got Sarah McGinn on strikes and Bryanna Heckle on an infield pop fly to end the game. Paulmeyer went two-for-three with an RBI in the second game.
Carthage travels to Rock Island, Ill., on Wednesday, April 13 to play CCIW-opponent Augustana College (Ill., 15-13, 3-3 CCIW) in a 4 p.m. doubleheader at Carver Field.
