Carthage 8, North Central 3
Carthage 9, North Central 4

NAPERVILLE — The Carthage College softball team returned to action Tuesday afternoon in Naperville to face North Central. The Firebirds picked up two wins over the Cardinals. Clare Rettler broke the Carthage College Softball Career Hits Record Tuesday afternoon. The record was previously held by Bryanna Heckel (2011-14) with 175 hits. Rettler is currently at 179 hits with 98 career games. 


Game One

• The Firebirds got on the board early in the top of the first, with Rettler starting it off with a single to the shortstop. Rettler stole second and Kristina Chronos singled to shortstop. With two outs, Gwen Hendrick reached on a fielder's error, scoring Rettler, unearned (1-0).
• Quick inning for the Cardinals, led to no runs, no hits, and no runner left on base (1-0).
• In the top of the second, Hana Adler singled through the right side to start a big inning for the Firebirds. Leiah Cardona pinch ran for Adler and advanced to second after a sac bunt by Rylee Boyd. Rettler singled up the middle to advance Cardona to third. Chronos came up next and reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop scoring Cardona (2-0). Addison Simonson singled up the middle, scoring Rettler and forcing the Firebirds to lead 3-0. Izzy Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly to score Chronos (4-0). Simonson crossed the plate with Hendrick's double down the left field line (5-0). 
• The Cardinals scored two runs in the bottom of the second with two hits (5-2).
• A scoreless third and fourth inning for both sides, kept the lead to the Firebirds going into the fifth (5-2).
• Hendrick singled up the middle to start the fifth inning. Peyton Kryza reached on a fielder's choice and Hendrick advanced to second. Kelly Gaiser entered the game to pinch run for Kryza. Adler walked to load the bases with one out. Boyd grounded out to second to score Hendrick (6-2). Gaiser crossed the plate after Rettler's singled to right field (7-2).
• The Cardinals scored a run in the bottom of the fifth with two hits (7-3).
• Hernandez singled up the middle to start the top of the sixth. Hendrick walked and Hernandez advanced to second. After a wild pitch, Hendrick and Hernandez advanced. Olivia Hristov flied out to center field, and Hernandez scored unearned on an error (8-3). 
• In the bottom of the sixth, the Cardinals left one on base (8-3).
• A scoreless seventh inning for both sides, led to the Firebirds taking game one (8-3).

Game Two

• The Cardinals started game two with no runs, no hits, and no one left on base (0-0).
• In the bottom of the first, Rettler singled to the pitcher to start the inning. Rettler stole second, Chronos singled to right field, advanced to second, and moved Rettler to third, placing two Firebirds in scoring position. Simonson singled up the middle scoring Rettler (1-0). Chronos crossed the plate after Hernandez singled up the middle (2-0). Hendrick flied out to left field, scoring Simonson (3-0). 
• The Cardinals dug into the Firebirds' lead in the top of the second scoring two runs, with three hits, and leaving two runners on base (3-2). 
• A scoreless bottom of the second for the Firebirds led to keeping their lead going into the third (3-2)
• The Firebirds held the Cardinals to no runs in the top of the third (3-2).
• In the bottom of the third, the Firebirds scored six runs with three hits. Batting through the entire order, Hernandez, Hendrick, Hristov, Tallulah Finegold, Rettler, and Boyd all crossed the plate (9-2).
• A scoreless fourth inning for both sides, kept the lead to the Firebirds going to the fifth. 
• In the top of the fifth, the Cardinals scored two runs with three hits and two left on base (9-4).
• The Firebirds scored no runs in the bottom of the fifth (9-4).
• In the top of the sixth, the Firebirds held the Cardinals to no runs, one hit, and one runner left on base (9-4).
• The Firebirds left two on base in the bottom of the sixth (9-4).
• In the top of the seventh, the Firebirds held the Cardinals to no runs, securing the win and the sweep (9-4). 

• In game one, going five for five at the plate, Rettler led the Firebirds in hits with five, two runs, and one RBI. 
• In game two, Simonson led the Firebirds with four hits, one run, and three RBIs.
• The Firebirds collected 25 hits over 64 plate appearances. 
• Hristov pitched two full games to collect two wins in the circle (10-3). 

The Firebirds return to action in Elmhurst, Ill. to face Elmhurst University on Saturday, April 12 at noon. For more information, visit our athletics.carthage.edu.