Carthage 12, North Park 2
Carthage 11, North Park 4


KENOSHA — The Carthage College softball team returned to action Wednesday afternoon for a conference matchup against the North Park Vikings. The Firebirds completed the sweep over the Vikings, securing two conference matchup wins. 


Game One

• The Firebirds started game one holding the Vikings to no hits in the top of the first (0-0).
• Clare Rettler singled down the left field line to start the bottom of the first for the Firebirds. Rettler stole second and advanced to third with Kristina Chronos' ground out to second. Addison Simonson singled to right field to score Rettler (1-0).
• The Vikings collected one hit in the top of the second (1-0).
• In the bottom of the second, Olivia Hristov singled to center field. Tallulah Finegold walked, advancing Hristov to second. Both Firebirds (Finegold and Hristov) were in scoring position after a wild pitch. Hana Adler singled to shortstop, scoring Hristov (2-0). After Adler stole second, Rylee Boyd singled to left center, crossing Adler and Finegold across the plate (4-0).
• The Vikings closed in on the Firebirds' lead in the top of the third, scoring two runs (4-2).
• The Firebirds collected one hit in the bottom of the third (4-2).
• In the top of the fourth, the Vikings collected one hit and left no one on base (4-2).
• The Firebirds extended their lead in the top of the fourth, scoring eight runs and collecting six hits. Rettler, Boyd, Chronos, Izzy Hernandez, Gwen Hendrick, Finegold, Hristov, and Adler all crossed the plate for the Firebirds (12-2).
• In the top of the fifth, the Firebirds held off the Vikings to secure the win in five innings. 

Game Two

• The Firebirds continued the bats in game two, scoring two runs in the top of the first. Chronos singled to center field and Simonson singled to the shortstop. With two outs, Hendirck tripled to right field, scoring Simonson and Chronos (2-0). 
• The Vikings collected one hit in the bottom of the first (2-0).
• A scoreless second inning for both sides, kept the lead to the Firebirds (2-0).
• In the top of the third, Chronos singled to right center and Simonson collected a walk. Hernandez reached first with a bunt and a throwing error by the pitcher and advanced to second. Chronos scored on the bunt, and the error caused Simonson to cross the plate (4-0).
• The Firebirds held the Vikings to one hit in the bottom of the third (4-0). 
• In the top of the fourth, Adler started it off for the Firebirds with a double to right field. Rettler singled up the middle, scoring Adler while also advancing on the throw (5-0). Chronos singled to the right field, advancing Rettler to third. Chronos stole second and Hernandez singled through the left side, scoring both Chronos and Rettler (7-0). 
• The Vikings left no runners on base in the bottom of the fourth (7-0).
• In the top of the fifth, the Firebirds collected one hit and left one runner on base (7-0).
• The Vikings dug into the Firebirds' lead in the bottom of the fifth, crossing four runners across the plate (7-4).
• In the top of the sixth, Rettler laid down a bunt for a single. Rettler stole second, and Chronos got on base with a walk. Hendrick came up next, doubling down the left field line, scoring Rettler and Chronos (9-4).
• The Vikings collected two hits and left three runners on base in the bottom of the sixth (9-4).
• Maddie Conway and Boyd started the top of the seventh for the Firebirds, getting hit by a pitch and a walk. Both Conway and Boyd advanced into scoring position after a wild pitch. Rettler came up next to the plate and got on base with a walk. With the bases loaded, Conway crossed the plate after Chronos was hit by a pitch (10-4). Simson walked, crossing Boyd across the plate (11-4).
• The Firebirds held the Vikings to no hits in the bottom of the seventh to complete the sweep (11-4).   

• In game one, Rettler and Hristov led the Firebirds in hits with two.
• In game two, Chronos went three for three at the plate and led the Firebirds with four runs. 
• Hristov collected the win in the circle for game one (13-4).
• In game two, Conway moved to 11-4 in the circle. 

The Firebirds return to action, staying at home and taking on Millikin Saturday, April 26 at 1 p.m. For more information, visit our athletics.carthage.edu.