ELMHURST, Ill. - After a tough mid-season stretch, the Carthage Firebirds softball team got back to winning ways on Tuesday afternoon. Carthage took both games of a conference doubleheader from Elmhurst, winning the latter game on a walk-off error. With the sweep, Carthage surpassed Elmhurst in the conference standings and currently sits in fifth. 

Izzy Hernandez had another phenomenal day at the plate, extending her hitting-streak to ten while picking up three hits and a pair of RBIs. Hernandez is now fifth in the CCIW in hits (32), OPS (1.031), and total bases (48), and is fourth in home runs (four), third in RBIs (25), and sixth in SLG% (.585). 





Game One

• Final Score: Carthage 7, Elmhurst 3
• Location: Salt Creek Park - Elmhurst, Ill
• Records: Carthage 9-17 (4-5 CCIW), Elmhurst 10-14 (3-4 CCIW)

Game Two

• Final Score: Carthage 7, Elmhurst 3
• Location: Salt Creek Park - Elmhurst, Ill
• Records: Carthage 10-17 (5-5 CCIW), Elmhurst 10-15 (3-5 CCIW)

Game One:

• The Bluejays struck first in game one, scoring via an error from Carthage in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. 
• After two quick outs from the Firebirds in the top of the second inning, Carthage put together an impressive rally to seize a firm 4-1 lead. Consecutive walks from Abby Wierzbicki and Rylee Johnson established the rally's framework before bunt-aficionado Clare Rettler laid down a beauty to reach on a single. 
• With the bases loaded and two outs, Gracie Vlach and Kiley Lamb each walked to bring a runner home before Gwen Hendrick reached via an error - scoring another pair of Firebirds. Carthage led 4-1 after two. 
• The Firebirds added an insurance run in the top of the third as Sarah Bennett scored on a passed ball. 
• Elmhurst chiseled into Carthage's advantage, scoring a run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single. No further damage was done as the Bluejays trailed 5-2 after five innings of softball. 
• A two-RBI single from Sarah Bennett washed out the Bluejays' fifth-inning run as well as gave her team its largest lead of the afternoon. Carthage held a firm 7-2 lead with the Bluejays set to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning. 
• A hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded brought Elmhurst back to within four, trailing 7-3 with one inning remaining. Despite putting two runners on in the bottom of the seventh, the Bluejays weren't able to put anymore runs across as Carthage took game one 7-3. The win snapped a six-game losing streak for the Firebirds. 

Game Two:

• Elmhurst scored the first run in game two as well, sending home a runner on an RBI groundout to take an early 1-0 lead. 
• Carthage retook the lead from the Bluejays in the bottom half of the opening inning, as Izzy Hernandez extended her hitting streak to ten with an RBI single and Rylee Johnson reached on a fielder's choice to score the second run. 
• The Bluejays battled back in the top of the third, retaking the lead in the same method which Carthage used in the first inning. Elmhurst singled in a run before scoring on a fielder's choice to take a 3-2 lead after three. 
• The Bluejay's lead was extended in the top of the fifth via a sacrifice fly. 
• Cutting the host's lead in half in the bottom of the sixth inning was Kristina Chronos, who doubled in Izzy Hernandez after Hernandez singled and stole second. 
• Down a run in the bottom of the seventh, Carthage executed well at the plate to walk-off the Bluejays and secure a doubleheader sweep. Rettler singled to open the inning, while two more singles from the Firebirds (Gaiser and Hendrick) tied the game at 4-4. The winning run was scored as Izzy Hernandez reached base via an error from Elmhurst's pitcher, scoring Kelly Gaiser. 

 

• Sarah Bennett had as many hits as Elmhurst did runs in game one, tallying three hits to go along with two RBIs and a run scored. The three hits for Bennett set a new single-game career high. 
• Gwen Hendrick was also productive in game one, tallying two hits, a walk, a run scored, and two RBIs. As a first-year outfielder, Hendrick is now slashing .361/.405/.472 with 26 hits and ten RBIs. 
• Also picking up multiple hits and a run scored in game one were Rylee Johnson and Clare Rettler. Johnson also drew a walk. With another excellent day at the plate, Rettler is now second in the CCIW in batting average (.460), sixth in OPS (1.004), and first in OBP (.528). 
• Maddie Conway went the distance in the circle in game one, recording a pair of strikeouts and allowing only three earned runs. In relief of Emma Faubel in game two, Conway stepped in to face a single batter and struck them out. 
• Scoring the winning run in game two, Kelly Gaiser had a big game for Carthage. The first-year athlete scored two runs and tallied her first three-hit game of her young career. 
• Superstar Izzy Hernandez added two hits, two RBIs, and a run scored in game two. Hernandez, who now owns a ten-game hitting streak, also reached on an error to walk-off the Bluejays in the latter game. 
• First-year pitcher Emma Faubel went 4.1 innings in the circle in game two, allowing only a single run while striking out three batters. 

 

• Carthage will take on the Thunder in Wheaton tomorrow at 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. before taking a week off from competition.