KENOSHA, WIS.—The Carthage College softball team (0-0, 0-0 CCIW) will open their 2017 campaign at Illinois College (DH) on Saturday, March 4 at 1:00 p.m. The Lady Reds will enter Saturday's bout with 12 returners and seven newcomers on the 2017 roster.  
 
ABOUT ILLINOIS COLLEGE (0-0, 0-0 MWC)
 
The Lady Blues ended their 2016 campaign with a 21-17, 13-7 MWC record, which ended with back-to-back losses to Lake Forest and Carroll (Wis.) in the Midwest Conference Tournament. Illinois College returns their top-five sluggers from last season. This includes senior Infielder Katie Prizer, who led Illinois College with a .385 batting average last season. Junior catcher Lea Hall, who slugged five home runs last season, also returns for the Lady Blues. 
 
Gone from last season's squad is Amanda Price, who tallied a 2.06 ERA and 53 strikeouts on 109.0 innings pitched last season. Junior Mariah Hedges, who notched 40 strikeouts on 78.0 innings pitched in 2016, highlights the returning members of the Illinois College pitching staff. 
 
The 2017 season is Meghan Roman's seventh as Illinois College head softball coach. Roman, a 2010 Carthage graduate, is the Lady Reds' all-time leader with 51 stolen bases.
 
The Lady Reds and Illinois College will square-off for the first time in program history.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
 
The Lady Reds will play a 10-game slate at the NTC Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. on March 17-22.