KENOSHA, WIS.—The Carthage College softball team will open their 2018 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) campaign against Elmhurst College (DH) at the Carthage Softball Field on Wednesday, April 4 at 3:00 p.m. The Lady Reds will turn around and face #18 UW-Whitewater (DH) in a road bout on Thursday, April 5 at 2:30 p.m.
 
The Lady Reds, who sport a three-game win streak, are led by Jennifer Michuda's .353 (18-51) batting average. Alexandra Millett ranks second on the team with a .348 (23-66) mark, followed by Brooke Sefcik's .328 (21-64) batting average and CCIW-leading four home runs. Emmily Zinkiewicz rounds out the Carthage .300+ hitters with a .317 (20-63) figure.
 
ABOUT ELMHURST COLLEGE (5-11, 0-2 CCIW)
 
Elmhurst will take a six-game losing skid into their bout against the Lady Reds. The Bluejays opened their 2018 CCIW schedule with 5-0 and 3-0 losses to #10 Illinois Wesleyan University on March 31. Their five victories this season occurred against Fitchburg State College (6-1), Sewanee (16-5), Carleton (4-3), Oberlin (3-1) and Hamilton (7-5) in Clermont, Fla. on March 16-22. 
 
Veronica Zahn paces the Bluejays offense with a .500 (25-50) batting average and one home run. Rebekah Ondracek (.360) and Alyssa Ressinger (.333), who each have a team-leading 12 runs batted in, complete the .300+ hitters in the Bluejays' lineup.  
 
The 2018 season marks Mike Paulo's sixth as Elmhurst head softball coach. The Lady Reds own a 47-20 all-time record against the Bluejays.
 
ABOUT #18 UW-WHITEWATER (7-7, 0-0 WIAC)
 
The Warhawks completed a 7-7 record in Clermont, Fla. on March 22-29 that included victories over SUNY New Paltz (11-0), Plymouth State (12-0), St. Thomas (9-1), Tufts (6-3), Wellesley (Mass.) (10-2), Middlebury (2-0) and Mount St. Vincent (8-0).
 
UW-Whitewater, who ranks 11^th in the country with 2.57 doubles per game, are led by Mallory Klotz's .419 (18-43) batting average, 13 runs batted in and one home run. Megan Schwistzer (.389) and Emily Rux (.333) are also key cogs in the Warhawks' starting lineup.
 
The Warhawks' are coming off a 37-9, 14-0 WIAC campaign that resulted in a 2017 WIAC Regular Season, and Tournament Championship. Their season ended with a 7-0 loss to Hope College in the NCAA Regional on May 12, 2017.
 
The 2017-18 season marks Brenda Volk's 20^th as UW-Whitewater head softball coach. The Lady Reds are 6-22 all-time against the Warhawks.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
 
Carthage will face North Park University (DH) on Wednesday, April 11 in Chicago at 3:00 p.m., and Augustana College (Ill.) at the Carthage Softball Field on Saturday, April 14 at 1:00 p.m.