The Carthage College softball team (7-9, 2-0 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) opened its CCIW-schedule on Thursday, April 2 by sweeping a doubleheader from North Park University (2-14, 0-4 CCIW), 8-0 and 4-1, at the Carthage Softball Field in Kenosha, Wis.
 
Carthage broke a scoreless tie in the fourth with a bases-loaded fielder's choice RBI off the bat of Lauren Jones, followed by a two-run single by Makenzie Walker.  The Lady Reds added three more runs in the fourth, including an RBI-single by Olivia Scott.  A two-run double by Kate Lelek in the fifth inning gave Carthage an 8-0 lead, and the game was halted due to an eight-run rule.
 
Carthage pitcher Makenzie Walker (So., Kenosha, Wis./Bradford. 2-4) blanked the Vikings on seven hits, two walks and five strikeouts over five innings.  Juliana Faulconer (2-6) took the loss.  Kate Lelek (Sr., Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) went two-for-two with two runs scored and two RBI.
 
In the nightcap, Carthage took a 3-0 lead in the third on a solo home run by Kristine Herdegen and a two-run double by Sam Phelps.  Phelps doubled in another run in the fifth, and the Lady Reds led, 4-0.  The Vikings came up with a run in the fifth, and that closed out the scoring at 4-1.
 
Carthage pitcher Jessica Kirby (So., Bartlett, Ill., 3-3) was the winner.  She allowed just one run on four hits and a walk over seven innings.  Katy Ortinau (0-8) took the loss for North Park.  Carthage's Sam Phelps (Fr., Leland, Ill./Aurora-Rosary) went three-for-four with three RBI.
 
The Lady Reds travel to Lake Forest, Ill., on Monday, April 6 to play Lake Forest College (17-3) in a 3 p.m. doubleheader at the Lake Forest Softball Field.