BLOOMINGTON, ILL.—The 2019 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Softball Tournament was upon the Lady Reds on Friday, when they invaded the Illinois Wesleyan University Softball Field in pursuit of their first title in program history. Carthage couldn't duplicate last season's program-first opening-day sweep as they began day one with a 6-1 domination of North Central (Ill.), followed by a 7-3 loss to Illinois Wesleyan University.
 
The Lady Reds exit Friday with a 25-13, 10-6 CCIW record and will face Wheaton College (Ill.) in an elimination game tomorrow, Saturday, May 4 at 10:00 a.m.
 
Lady Reds 6, North Central 1
 
It was another day at the office for Carthage pitcher Stefanie Guercio, who rang up eight batters and allowed just two hits and two walks in the winning-effort. Her run support occurred in the fifth inning, where the Lady Reds exploited two North Central errors en route to a six-run frame. Carthage's damage was done with the bases-loaded, where Emmily Zinkiewicz got things started with an infield single that scored Danielle Koziczkowski (Sefcik's pinch runner, who singled) to make the score 1-0.
 
North Central's muffed ground ball hit by Alexandra Millett knocked-in Ellie Bernero (single) to push the score to 2-0. Donna Stevens followed with a bases-loaded double that plated three runs that widened the margin to 5-0. Naomi Alonzo iced the inning with a double that scored Stevens from second base to make things 6-0.
 
The Cardinals tacked on a sixth-inning run to narrow their deficit to 6-1, where things stayed final. Stevens commanded Carthage at the plate with a pair of doubles and three runs batted in.
 
Illinois Wesleyan 7, Lady Reds 3
 
The Titans set the tone with a pair of first-inning runs before Carthage exploited their second-inning error courtesy of Courtney Polanski's ground ball that scored Brooke Sefcik (single) to cut the score in half at 2-1. The second inning resulted in three more Titan runs that pushed their cushion to 5-1.
 
The third inning saw Ellie Bernero double home Stevens (single), and score off Sefcik's single to cut Carthage's deficit to 5-3.
 
That's all the offense Carthage mustered as Illinois Wesleyan cemented a 7-3 win after scoring a run in each the fifth and sixth innings.
 
Alonzo and Bernero combined to surrender 15 hits and seven runs in the pitching circle for Carthage, who were led by Stevens' 3-for-4 outing at the plate. Bernero and Sefcik contributed a pair of hits for the Lady Reds. Brea Walker allowed eight hits and one walk in the winning effort on the pitching rubber for Illinois Wesleyan.
 

W 🥎 | FINAL SCORE: Lady Reds win their opening game of the 2019 CCIW Tournament with a 6-1 decision over North Central.

Carthage will play at 5:00 p.m. against game two's winner between Wheaton and Illinois Wesleyan!  @CarthageSball pic.twitter.com/S3v6nldnNa

— Carthage Sports (@carthagesports) May 3, 2019