BLOOMINGTON, ILL.—Three wins in one day was required of the Carthage College softball team in their pursuit of a College Conference of Illinois Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament Championship at the Illinois Wesleyan Softball Field in Bloomington, Illinois on Saturday. The Lady Reds took that first step with a 2-1 victory over Wheaton College (Ill.) in the morning bout, but couldn't string more together in a 3-1 loss to #6 Illinois Wesleyan University.
 
The Lady Reds exit the 2019 CCIW Softball Tournament with a 26-14, 10-6 CCIW record and will learn if their season will continue with an NCAA Division III Softball Tournament At-Large Pool C Bid on Monday's selection show that will air on www.ncaa.com at 12:00 p.m. (CT). Illinois Wesleyan, who carries a 33-7, 15-1 CCIW record, claimed their third-straight CCIW Softball Tournament Championship and earned an automatic bid into the 2019 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament.
 
Lady Reds 2, Wheaton 1
 
Kelly Thornton registered a 3-for-3 day at the plate for Wheaton, which included a first-inning solo home run that gave her team a 1-0 edge over Carthage. Courtney Polanski tied things up at 1-1 for the Lady Reds with a second-inning double before she scored off Alexandra Millett's single to left field.
 
Millett set up Carthage's run in the fifth inning when she led off with a single before being relieved on the base pads by Danielle Koziczkowski, who reached second off Donna Stevens' sacrifice bunt. Kelsey Domagala prevailed with an RBI-single that sent home Koziczkowski en route to a 2-1 Lady Reds lead.
 
Lady Reds pitcher Stefanie Guercio notched her 18^th win of the season. She allowed three hits and struckout seven batters over 4 2/3 innings of work. Ellie Bernero recorded the 2 1/3 innings pitching save for Carthage. Millett paced the Lady Reds at the dish with a 2-for-4 outing. Kelly Thornton gave up six hits and four walks in the complete-game pitching loss for the Thunder.
 
Illinois Wesleyan 3, Lady Reds 1
 
Domagala had Titans pitcher Ally Wiegand on egg shells as she torched her for a first-inning home run to right-center field, which gave the Lady Reds a 1-0 advantage.
 
Illinois Wesleyan's offense got that one back for Wiegand as they notched three runs on four hits in the fourth inning, which resulted in a 3-1 edge over Carthage.
 
Brooke Sefcik, Domagala and Makenzie Miller each recorded a hit for Carthage. Ellie Bernero surrendered 11 hits and three walks in the complete-game pitching loss for Carthage, while her counterpart Wiegand notched 12 strikeouts for the Titans.