Carthage 9, Carroll 1
Carthage 6, Carroll 1


KENOSHA — The Carthage College softball team returned to action Wednesday afternoon for a conference matchup against the Carroll Pioneers. The Firebirds swept the Pioneers, holding the Pioneers to two runs on the day. 


Game One

• The Pioneers scored one run, collected three hits, and left two on base in the top of the first (1-0).
• Clare Rettler started the first inning for the Firebirds with a triple, scoring and tying it up for the Firebirds off a bad throw (1-1).
• The Firebirds held the Pioneers to one hit and one left on base in the top of the second (1-1).
• In the bottom of the second, Olivia Hristov singled up the middle. Hana Adler walked, advancing Hristov to second. Rylee Boyd scored Hristov with a single to left field, forcing the score to 2-1. Kristina Chronos singled to left center to score both Boyd and Adler (4-1).
• The Pioneers left one on base in the top of the third (4-1).
• Izzy Hernandez doubled to left field to start the Firebirds in the bottom of the third. Gwen Hendrick doubled to left field to score Hernandez (5-1). Hendrick crossed the plate with Hristov singling through the left side (6-1).
• In the top of the fourth, the Pioneers left two on base (6-1).
• A walk put Hernandez on first. Hendrick reached on a fielder's choice, advancing Hernandez to second. Hristov singled to center field, scoring Hernandez (7-1). Tallulah Finegold came up next and singled to left field, scoring Hendrick (8-1).
• The Pioneers left no one on base in the top of the fifth (8-1).
• In the bottom of the fifth, Boyd singled to left field. Rettler laid down a bunt for a single, advancing Boyd. Chronos grounded out to third base with a sacrifice bunt, advancing Boyd and Rettler. Addison Simonson came up big at bat, singling to the shortstop, scoring Boyd and ending the game in mercy rule in five innings (9-1).

Game Two

• The first two innings of game two were scoreless for both sides (0-0).
• The Firebirds overturned the scoreless game in the top of the third. Rettler singled through the left side. Rettler crossed the plate from Simonson's single up the middle (1-0).
• In the bottom of the third, the Firebirds held the Pioneers to one hit and one runner on base (1-0). 
• Boyd and Rettler started it off for the Firebirds in the top of the fourth with walks. Chronos singled to center field, scoring Boyd (2-0).
• The Pioneers left two runners on base in the bottom of the fourth (2-0).
•  In the top of the fifth, Hendrick reached third with a dropped fly ball by the left fielder. Peyton Kryza laid a bunt down to score Hendrick, unearned (3-0).
• The Pioneers got on the board in the bottom of the fifth, scoring one run (3-1).
• Rettler singled with a bunt to get the bats rolling for the Firebirds in the top of the sixth. Rettler stole second and third before, crossing the plate with Simonson's single up the middle (4-1).
• In the bottom of the sixth, the Firebirds held the Pioneers to one hit and one left on base (4-1).
• Kryza got on base to start the top of the seventh with a walk. Kelly Gaiser pinch ran for Kryza and stole second. Adler doubled down the left field line to score Kaiser (5-1). Adler crossed the plate with Rettler's single up the middle, forcing the Firebirds' lead to 6-1.
• The Pioneers left one on base in the bottom of the seventh. The Firebirds took the sweep from the Pioneers in game two (6-2). 

• In game one, Hristov led the Firebirds in hits with three while also collecting the win in the circle for the Firebirds (12-4).
• In game two, Rettler led the Firebirds in hits with four.
• Maddie Conway collected the game two win in the circle (10-4).
• The Firebirds collected 23 hits.

The Firebirds return to action, staying at home and taking on North Park on Wednesday, April 23 at 3 p.m. For more information, visit our athletics.carthage.edu.