CLERMONT, FLA.—The Carthage College softball team faced D'Youville College and in-region opponent Benedictine University on Sunday afternoon at the Legends Way Complex in Clermont, Fla. Multiple-hit outings from Kristine Herdegen, Lauren Jones, Rachel Fanella and Kayla Uhwat-Vicicondi propelled Carthage to a 7-2 victory over D'Youville. The Lady Reds fell to Benedictine 5-1 despite an 11-strikeout performance from Katie Herron.
 
Sunday's split gives Carthage a 4-4, 0-0 CCIW record.
 
Lady Reds 7, D'Youville College 2
 
Uhwat set the tone for Carthage with a second-inning RBI-triple that scored Rachel Fanella, who singled, to make the score 1-0. Fanella reached base on an error in the fourth inning and scored on Emmily Zinkiewicz's single to widen Carthage's lead to 2-0.
 
The Spartans tied the game 2-2 in the fourth inning before Carthage's three-run sixth inning gave them the lead for good. Uhwat, Vivian Juarez and Kristine Herdegen (double) each drove in a run for Carthage to help push their lead to 5-2.
 
The seventh inning saw the Lady Reds tally a pair of runs, thanks to a sharp RBI-single from Hailey Rothstein to make the score 6-2. Uhwat put the finishing touches on Carthage's scoring with an RBI-groundout that scored Fanella to widen the margin to 7-2.
 
Ellie Bernero, who got the pitching start for the Lady Reds, struck out five batters in 3 1/3 innings of work. Amy Goldsmith fanned eight batters and surrendered one hit in 3 2/3 innings pitched for Carthage.
 
Herdegen registered a three-for-four day at the plate for the Lady Reds. Uhwat, Fanella and Jones each notched a pair of hits in the contest for Carthage.
 
Benedictine 5, Lady Reds 1
 
Carthage drew first blood in the opening inning when ZInkiewicz singled, and advanced to third base following an Eagles' throwing error off Juarez's bunt. Herdegen drove in Zinkiewicz with a groundout to give the Lady Reds a 1-0 lead.
 
That's all the offensive arsenal Carthage had as Benedictine's two-run third inning, and three-run sixth secured them a 5-1 victory. Herron did everything she could to keep things under control on the pitching rubber for the Lady Reds. She tallied 11 strikeouts and surrendered only two earned runs in the complete-game effort.
 
Zinkiewicz, Darian Pelsor, Fanella and Uhwat each contributed a hit to the Carthage offense.
 
The Lady Reds will have the day off tomorrow before they return to competition on Tuesday, March 21 in Clermont, Fla. They will face Grinnell College at 9:00 a.m. (ET), and UW-Eau Claire at 11:30 a.m. (ET).