Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Carthage College softball team (8-0, 0-0 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin), ranked 21st in the March 14 National Fastpitch Coaches Association NCAA Division III poll, ran its season-opening winning streak to eight games on Tuesday, March 20 with wins over Carleton College (0-8), 9-3, and 9-1 over Augsburg College (3-6) in Tucson, Ariz.  The 8-0 start is the best ever for the Lady Reds since the program began in 1968.
 
In the Carleton game, Cathage took an 8-3 lead after three innings, with Abby Hanson hitting a two-run homer in the third.  The Lady Reds tacked on a final run in the sixth.  Hanson went two-for-four with two runs scored and three RBI.  Alyssa Schrader (3-0) was the winning pitcher.  Schrader allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks. 

Carthage took a 4-1 lead over Augsburg after three innings.  The Lady Reds scored four more in the fourth to go up, 8-1, with Schrader hitting a two-run double.  Katie Morman, Vicki Pyan and Olivia Scott each had two hits in the Augsburg game.  Krystina Leazer ran her record to 5-0 by limiting the Auggies to one run on two hits and a walk over five innings.  Carthage returns to action on Thursday, March 22 with games against Carleton at 9 a.m., MST and Calvin College at 11 a.m., MST.