BLOOMINGTON, ILL.—The #4 Carthage College softball team drew top-seeded and host Illinois Wesleyan University for their opening game of the 2018 CCIW Softball Tournament on Friday. A week removed from being a victim of a 7-0, 8-0 sweep to the Titans, the Lady Reds redeemed themselves with a 1-0 victory behind Stefanie Guercio's fourth complete-game pitching shutout of the season.
 
The Lady Reds faced North Central College (Ill.), who defeated Carroll (Wis.) 7-4 in their opening game of the tournament, in the winner's bracket. History was made with a 2-1 victory over the Cardinals, which marked the first time Carthage opened the CCIW Tournament with two-straight wins.

"Pitching was huge for us today," said Lady Reds head softball coach Amy Gillmore. "We helped our pitchers out by getting them a lead in both games in the first inning, that was big for us. We did just enough on defense and hitting. This was the first time that we have come out of day one with two wins and that is a nice feeling."
 
The victories up Carthage's record to 21-19, 9-7 CCIW. The Lady Reds next play on Saturday, May 5 at 12:00 p.m. against the winner between North Central College (Ill.) and Illinois Wesleyan University, who play at 10:00 a.m. Carthage needs just one more victory to claim the 2018 CCIW Tournament Championship. A loss will force another game at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow. 
 
Lady Reds 1, Illinois Wesleyan 0
 
Guercio's fourth complete-game shutout of the season included just two hits and seven strikeouts. Her lone run support occurred in the first inning, where Vivian Juarez led off with a single and advanced to second on Emmily Zinkiewicz's sacrifice bunt. This set up Naomi Alonzo's double that plated Juarez to give Carthage a 1-0 lead, where things stayed final.
 
The Lady Reds outhit Illinois Wesleyan 3-2. Juarez, Alonzo and Courtney Polanski each registered a hit. Brea Walker pitched a complete-game three hitter for Illinois Wesleyan.
 
Lady Reds 2, North Central 1
 
The Lady Reds turned a first-inning North Central outfield error into a 2-0 lead. Juarez (double) and Zinkiewicz (hit by pitch) each scored when North Central's outfield dropped Alexandra Millett's fly ball. Jenna Trojniar's solo home run in the third inning narrowed North Central's deficit to 2-1, but didn't plate more runs thanks to Guercio's five strikeouts over the final four innings of pitching relief for Ellie Bernero.
 
Juarez led the Carthage offense with two hits while four of her teammates each contributed a hit.