KENOSHA, WIS.—The Carthage College softball team hosted Illinois Wesleyan University (DH) on Saturday afternoon. Lady Reds pitcher Katie Herron gave up nine hits over 11 innings of work for the Lady Reds in game one, but a three-run Titan 12^th inning propelled them to a 4-1 victory. Carthage jumped to a 4-0 advantage in game two, but couldn't' hang on in an 8-4 loss. 
 
The losses mean Carthage will need to sweep Millikin University tomorrow at the Carthage Softball Field to at least earn a share of the CCIW regular season crown. The Big Blue swept Carroll University 1-0 and 9-1 on Saturday afternoon.
 
Carthage exits Saturday with a 22-12, 11-3 CCIW record while Illinois Wesleyan improves to 23-11, 7-5 CCIW.
 
Illinois Wesleyan 4, Lady Reds 1 (12 Innings)
 
The Lady Reds tallied their lone run of the contest in the fifth inning. Kristine Herdegen generated the offense when she reached on an error and stole second base. Lauren Jones plated Herdegen with a single to make the score 1-0 in favor of Carthage. 
 
Amanda Lack led off the seventh inning with a hit by pitch before she turned things over to pinch runner Stephanie Prentice.   Sydney Alery plated Prentice with a single to tie the game at one run a piece, where things stayed until the 12^th inning.
 
The 12^th inning saw Julie Josten hit a lead-off home run to give Illinois Wesleyan a 2-1 advantage. Alery added a two-run home run with two outs to widen Illinois Wesleyan's cushion to 4-1.
 
Carthage threatened in the bottom of the 12^th when Herdegen singled, and Darian Pelsor doubled. It didn't result in runs as Illinois Wesleyan held onto a 4-1 (12 innings) victory.
 
Jones went 3-for-5 at the plate with one RBI while Herdegen contributed a 2-for-6 outing at the dish. Herron surrendered one run on nine hits, and struck out four batters.
 
Illinois Wesleyan 8, Lady Reds 4
 
A four-run Lady Reds third inning propelled them to a 4-0 advantage. Emmily Zinkiewicz led off the third inning with a single before she moved to second base on Jennifer Michuda's sacrifice bunt. Vivian Juarez knocked Zinkiewicz home with a single to give Carthage a 1-0 lead. Herdegen plated Juarez with a single to make the score 2-0.
 
Herdegen later scored when Pelsor reached on an error to widen Carthage's margin to 3-0. Jones's single knocked in Pelsor to give Carthage a 4-0 advantage.
 
That's all Carthage had in the tank offensively as Illinois Wesleyan responded with eight unanswered runs to secure an 8-4 victory.
 
Jones and Brooke Sefcik each went 2-for-3 at the dish for Carthage. Amy Goldsmith and Rachel Fanella each saw time on the pitching rubber for Carthage.
 
The Lady Reds will return to action tomorrow, Sunday, April 23 when they host Millikin University (DH) at 12:00 p.m. A sweep over the Big Blue will give Carthage a share of the CCIW Regular Season Title, and the right to host the CCIW Tournament.