BLOOMINGTON, ILL.—The 2018 regular season finale pitted the Carthage College softball team against first-place #23 Illinois Wesleyan University (DH) in a Saturday-matinee in Bloomington, Illinois. The Lady Reds were the victim of Titans' pitcher Ally Wiegand's school-record 17 strikeouts in a 7-0 game-one loss. Illinois Wesleyan added their ninth shutout of the season in an 8-0 victory over Carthage in game two.
 
The losses drop Carthage's record to 19-19, 9-7 CCIW while the Titans' sweep gives them a 24-8-1, 13-1 CCIW record and their 15^th CCIW Regular Season Softball Championship.
 
Illinois Wesleyan 7, Lady Reds 0
 
Despite her 17 strikeouts, Titans pitcher Wiegnand surrendered five hits to the Lady Reds. Danielle Koziczkowski, Vivian Juarez, Naomi Alonzo, Ellie Bernero and Emmily Zinkiewicz each tallied a hit for the Lady Reds offense.
 
The Titan's torched Carthage for a pair of runs in each the third and fourth innings en route to a 4-0 lead. Shelby Fulk's two-run home run in the fifth inning, and Julie Josten's sixth-inning solo home run pushed Illinois Wesleyan's lead to 7-0.
 
Wiegnand's counterpart Stefanie Guercio scattered four runs on eight hits and struck out five batters in four innings on the pitching rubber for Carthage. Naomi Alonzo pitched the final two innings for the Lady Reds, where she allowed three runs on three hits.
 
Illinois Wesleyan 8, Lady Reds 0
 
Alexandra Millett, Bernero, Veronica Pieters and Marissa Maldonado each notched a hit for Carthage in game two, but couldn't push any runs across Titans pitcher Mackenzie Marquis.
 
Illinois Wesleyan tallied a second-inning run before their three-run fourth inning gave them a 4-0 lead. Maggie Graham (2), Josten and Sydney Alery each notched an RBI for the Titans throughout the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to push their advantage to 8-0.
 
Marquis allowed no runs on four hits and struck out just four batters. Bernero surrendered four runs (two earned) on one hit while striking out five Titans in four innings of work before Stephanie Bonaguidi pitched the final three innings for Carthage.
 
The Lady Reds will compete in the 2018 CCIW Softball Tournament on Friday, May 4-5 at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois. #4 Carthage will have a shot at redemption against #1 Illinois Wesleyan on Friday, May 2 at 2:00 p.m. #3 Carroll University will play #2 North Central (Ill.) in the first game of the double-elimination tournament at 12:00 p.m.