Carthage 10, Saint Vincent 5
Carthage 3, Otterbein 2
CLERMONT, Fla. - The Carthage softball team continued play in their spring break trip to Florida with a doubleheader against the Saint Vincent Bearcats and the Otterbein Cardinals. It was a strong day for the Firebirds, who cruised past the Bearcats in the first game before winning on a walk-off against the Cardinals.



VS SAINT VINCENT

The Firebirds jumped on their first opportunity to score in the top of the first inning, as Gwen Hendrick hit a triple to left field and brought home Clare Rettler. Hendrick would later score on an RBI groundout by Izzy Hernandez. The Bearcats bounced back immediately, scoring a run in the first on an RBI single and two more in the second to pull ahead 3-2.

Kristina Chronos put the Firebirds back in the lead in the top of the fourth inning with an RBI triple to right field, scoring Olivia Hristov and Skylar Swatkowski. A sacrifice fly for the Bearcats in the bottom of the fourth would level the score at 4-4.

Hristov singled in the top of the fifth to bring Kelly Gaiser home and score the go-ahead run for the Firebirds.

The Firebirds launched a five run rally in the sixth inning. The first runs came in on another triple for Hendrick, scoring Rettler and Kiley Lamb. Hendrick would then score on a RBI single for Hernandez, who would come around to score on a triple by Gaiser. Swatkowski grounded out to the shortstop to bring home Gaiser and give the Firebirds a 10-4 lead. 

The Bearcats would get back a run in the bottom of the seventh, but the Firebirds held on to earn the first win of the season. Hristov was credited with the win in relief for the Firebirds and improved to 1-1 on the year.

VS OTTERBEIN

The Firebirds and the Cardinals found themselves in a scoreless defensive battle through the first half of the game. The Cardinals found the scoreboard first in the top of the fifth with an RBI single to score two runs.

The Firebirds came alive in the bottom of the seventh inning. Rylee Johnson led off with a double to left field. A single up the middle by Sarah Bennett brought Johnson around to score and cut the deficit to 2-1. Lamb entered the game as a pinch runner for Bennett and advanced to second base on a passed ball. Rettler was up next and drew a walk to put runners on first and second with no outs. Abby Wierzbicki entered the game as pinch hitter and laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. The Cardinals walked Hernandez to load the bases, which allowed Hristov to be the hero as she singled to left center to bring home Lamb and Rettler for the walk-off win. Emma Faubel earned the win for the Firebirds after pitching a complete game.


 

• Rettler continued the hot start to the season, going 4-7 in the doubleheader with three runs scored
• Against Saint Vincent, Hendrick went 2-4 with a pair of triples, two runs scored and three RBIs
• Hristov pitched 5.1 innings in relief with two earned runs against Saint Vincent
• Faubel pitched all seven innings against Otterbein, allowing two runs on five hits. She struck out three batters in the outing

The Firebirds return to action on Tuesday, March 5 to take on Northland at 4:15 p.m. EST and Defiance at 6:30 p.m. EST. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.