RIPON, WIS.—The Carthage College softball team traveled to Ripon College for their third doubleheader in as many days on Thursday afternoon. The Lady Reds began the week with a pair of splits against CCIW-foe North Central College, and UW-Oshkosh at the Carthage Softball Field on April 19 and 20.
 
The Red Hawk's only victories this season came in a 2-1 decision over Illinois College on April 16, and a 4-2 advantage over St. Norbert College on April 12. The doubleheader between Ripon and Carthage was originally slated for April 5 before undesirable field conditions pushed it to today.
 
The Lady Reds swept the Red Hawks by scores of 4-2 and 8-0 on Thursday afternoon.
 
Carthage improves to 16-14, 5-5 CCIW while Ripon falls to 2-24, 2-8 MWC
 
Lady Reds 4, Ripon 2
 
The Lady Reds tallied a run in the first inning when Makenzie Walker singled up the middle. Walker eventually stole second and advanced to third on an error before scoring on a Darian Pelsor single to give Carthage a 1-0 lead.
 
The Red Hawks regained a 2-1 lead in the second inning before a Lady Red, three-run fourth sealed their fate.
 
Jennifer Michuda and Vivian Juarez led off the fourth inning with a walk and single to put runners on the corners. Walker tallied her second hit of the game with a two-run single that scored Juarez and Michuda to give the Lady Reds a 3-2 lead. Walker advanced to second on the throw to home plate.
 
Kristine Herdegen followed that when she reached on a fielder's choice, which sent Walker to third base. This set up Hailey Rothstein's sacrifice fly that scored Walker to stretch the Carthage lead to 4-2.
 
Walker got the pitching start for Carthage. She scattered seven hits and surrendered no walks in the complete-game effort. Walker, Pelsor, and Juarez each collected two hits in the game for the Lady Reds.
 
Lady Reds 5, Ripon 0
 
Walker set the tone in game two when she reached on an error to begin the first inning. Alessia Knowski bunted Walker to second base for Pelsor, who doubled her home to give the Lady Reds a 1-0 lead.
 
Designated player Lauren Jones made her presence known for Carthage when she drove in Pelsor with a single down the left field line to widen the Lady Red lead to 2-0.
 
Jones helped generate another Lady Red run in the third inning with a single. Pinch runner Kayla Uhwat-Vicicondi did the rest when she scored on Jodie Hurd's double to push Carthage's lead to 3-0.
 
Knowski made it 4-0 in the fourth inning when she walked and scored on Herdegen's single to left field.
 
The fifth inning saw the Lady Reds add another run. Hurd reached base on a fielder's choice before advancing to second base on Shannon Walsh's single. Back-to-back wild pitches sent Hurd home to make the score 5-0.
 
Jones and Hurd each drove in runs on singles for the Lady Reds to extend their lead to 8-0 in the sixth inning.
 
Pelsor tallied a complete-game shutout on the pitching rubber. She surrendered four hits and struck of five batters. Jones led Carthage with a 3-for-4 day at the plate that included two RBI. Hurd went 2-for-4 with three RBI. 
 
The Lady Reds will return to action on Saturday, April 23 at #11 Illinois Wesleyan University. The doubleheader will begin at 1:00 p.m.