Wheaton 7, Carthage 3
Carthage 3, Wheaton 2

WHEATON — The Carthage College softball team returned to action Thursday afternoon, opening conference play with an away contest against the Wheaton Thunder. The Firebirds fell 7-3 in game one to the Thunder. In game two the Firebirds came back for a 3-2 win in extra innings. 


Game One

• Carthage started the top of the first with the bats rolling. Addison Simonson and Izzy Hernandez got the Firebirds going with two walks. Gwen Hendrick homered to right center scoring Hernandez and Simonson (3-0).
• The Thunder dug into the Firebirds lead scoring one run and collecting two hits (3-1).
• Both sides saw scoreless innings in the second (3-1).
• In the top of the third Wheaton tied the game scoring 2 runs, one earned and the other unearned (3-3).
• Both sides were scoreless in the fourth inning (3-3).
• The Thunder held the Firebirds to no runs and left one on base in the top of the fifth (3-3).
• In the bottom of the fifth, the Thunder scored three runs on four hits (6-3).
• The Firebirds left one on base in the top of the sixth (6-3).
• Wheaton increased their lead in the bottom of the sixth, scoring one run (7-3).
• The Thunder forced the Firebirds to leave one runner left on base and end the game, taking the win 7-3 over the Firebirds in the top of the seventh.

Game Two

• Wheaton scored early in the top of the first, taking the lead (1-0).
• In the bottom of the first, the Firebirds had one hit and left one on base (1-0).
• The Firebirds held the Thunder to no runs on no hits and no one left on base in the top of the second  (1-0).
• In the bottom of the second, the Firebirds tied it up. Hendrick started it off with a walk. Hana Adler grounded out to third base advancing Hendrick into scoring position. Tallulah Finegold singled to left field to score Hendrick (1-1). 
• Both sides scored no runs in the third inning (1-1)
• Both the Thunder and the Firebirds saw scoreless innings in the fourth (1-1).
• The Firebirds held the Thunder to no runs, one hit, and two left on base in the top of the fifth (1-1).
• Clare Rettler reached on a fielding error by the third basemen to start the bottom of the fifth for the Firebirds. Rettler advanced to third after a steal and a ground out from Kristina Chronos. A sacrifice fly by Simonson scored Rettler to give the Firebirds the lead going into the sixth (2-1). 
• The Thunder collected three hits but left three on base in the top of the sixth (2-1).
• The Firebirds left one on base in the bottom of the sixth, keeping their lead going into the seventh (2-1). 
• The Thunder tied it up in the top of the seventh scoring one run on two hits (2-2).
• The Firebirds left one on base in the bottom of the seventh, forcing game two into extra innings (2-2).
• In the top of the eighth, the Thunder scored no runs, no hits, and left no one on base (2-2). 
• Hernandez doubled to left field to start the bottom of the eighth for the Firebirds. Hernandez advanced to third on a wild pitch. Kelly Gaiser subbed in to pinch run for Hernandez. Hendrick came to the plate next, singled to left field, and scored Gaiser, securing the win over the Thunder (3-2). 

• In game one, Hendrick led the Firebirds in hits with one and one run. 
• In game two, Rettler led the Firebirds in hits with two and one run.
• The Firebirds collected 14 hits over 55 plate appearances on the day. 

The Firebirds return to action in Rock Island, Ill. to face Augustana College on Saturday, April 5 at 1:00 pm. For more information, visit our athletics.carthage.edu.