North Park 4, Carthage 3
North Park 6, Carthage 0
CHICAGO, Ill. - The Carthage softball team traveled to the Windy City to face off against the North Park Vikings in a midweek doubleheader. It was a tough road trip for the Firebirds, as the squad blew a late lead in the opener before being shut out in the finale.



GAME 1

The Firebirds jumped ahead in the top of the first inning, as Maddie Conway hit a sacrifice fly to left field, allowing Clare Rettler to score from third base and give the Firebirds a 1-0 lead. 

In the top of the second inning, Abby Wierzbicki hit a ground rule double down the left field line to score Izzy Hernandez and extend the Carthage lead to two runs. 

An RBI triple and a sacrifice fly for the Vikings in the home half of the third leveled the score at 2-2.

The two squads stayed tied at 2 until the seventh inning, when I. Hernandez broke the tie with a home run to left field, giving the Firebirds a late 3-2 lead. The lead did not hold however, as the tying and winning runs came in on a single and a throwing error to give the Vikings a walk-off victory.

Maddie Conway was handed the loss and fell to 7-3 on the season.

GAME 2

The Vikings jumped on the board with a pair of runs in the top of the first. The hosting squad then added a run in both the third and fourth inning to extend the lead to 4-0. Another pair of runs would come home to score in the top of the seventh inning, allowing North Park to earn the 6-0 shutout victory.


 

• Rettler went 3-6 with 3 stolen bases
• Hernandez went 2-5 with a solo home run
• Wierzbicki went 3-6 with a double and an RBI

The Firebirds (14-8) return to action on Thursday, April 11 as Carthage travels to Waukesha to take on Carroll in a CCIW doubleheader. Action begins at 3 p.m. Carthage softball returns to Wiers Family Stadium and Barbara Madrigrano Field on April 13 against Augustana (IL). For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.