Wesleyan 10, Carthage 5
No. 7 East Texas Baptist 5, Carthage 4
CLERMONT, Fla. - The Carthage softball team continued its season opening Florida trip with a pair of games against the Wesleyan University Cardinals and the No. 7 East Texas Baptist University Tigers on Wednesday. The Firebirds got off to a slow start in the opening contest, falling to the Cardinals 10-5, before coming just short of an upset victory over the top-10 ranked Tigers.



VS WESLEYAN

The Cardinals wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the top half of the first inning, utilizing a walk and then an RBI double for Rebecca Cassel-Siskind to give Wesleyan a 1-0 lead with no outs in the opening frame. Another double, this time by Whitney Gigante, scored another run and extended the lead to 2-0. Four walks allowed two more runs to come home as Carthage trailed 4-0 after the top half of the first inning. The Firebirds were held scoreless in their half of the inning.

After a scoreless second inning, the Cardinals continued to add on to their lead after an error allowed two unearned runs to score and make it a 6-0 game. An RBI single for Nicole Celi scored the Cardinals seventh run of the game before the end of the third inning. The Firebirds went down one-two-three for the third consecutive inning.

An RBI single for Waverly Smart brought home another run to start the top of the fourth inning, before a single and a passed ball allowed two more runs to score, giving Wesleyan a 10-0 lead. The Firebirds responded in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Clare Rettler started things off with a single to right field and then stole second base. An RBI double for Rylee Boyd scored Rettler and got the Firebirds into the run column. An RBI single from Gwen Hendrick scored Boyd and cut the deficit to eight runs, as the Firebirds trailed 10-2 after four innings of play.

Trinity Breault entered to pitch for the Firebirds and got a quick one-two-three inning to keep the deficit at eight runs. Isabel Bates opened the bottom of the fifth inning with a single to center field. An error allowed Hana Adler to reach first and the Firebirds had two runners on with no outs. A bunt single allowed Rettler to reach and load the bases, before Boyd was hit by a pitch which allowed a run to score. An RBI single for Olivia Hristov plated two more runs and the deficit was cut to 10-5 at the end of the fifth inning. 

Breault kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard for two more innings, but the Firebirds could not score any runs of their own to claw their way back into the game.

VS EAST TEXAS BAPTIST

Both sides were held scoreless in the first inning, with the lone hit coming for the Tigers from Izabella Morales. The Firebirds then went down in order in the top of the second inning. A pair of walks and an error allowed the Tigers to break the tie and take a 1-0 lead.

After another one-two-three inning for the Firebirds in the top of the third, Morales kept the Tigers offense going with a leadoff double and later scored on an RBI double from Makayla Menchue to extend the lead to 2-0. 

Carthage found the hit column in the fourth inning with a bunt single from Rettler. Hendrick singled with one out in the inning to put two runners on base. An error by the Tigers loaded the bases and an RBI single for Addison Simonson got the Firebirds on the scoreboard with their first run of the game. Another error brought home Hendrick and tied the game at 2-2. An RBI double for Isable Bates scored two runs and gave Carthage a 4-2 lead to end the top of the fourth inning. The Tigers went down in order in the bottom half of the inning.

Both teams went scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings. The Firebirds had runners in scoring position in the top of the seventh but still held a two run lead heading into the bottom of the seventh. With a potential upset just three outs away, the Firebirds looked to slam the door on the Tigers. Morales opened the inning by reaching first on a fielding error by the Firebirds. A base hit for Ava Rodriguez put two runners on base with no outs. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, before Piper Morton sent a walk-off home run over the fence to give the nationally ranked Tigers a win over the Firebirds. 



 

• Clare Rettler: 3-8, 3 R, 3 SB
• Rylee Boyd: 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 2B
• Gwen Hendrick: 3-7, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB
• Trinity Breault: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R

The Firebirds (3-5) return to action on Wednesday, March 11 for another Florida doubleheader against Alfred University at 10 a.m. EST and Hiram College at 12:15 p.m. EST. Carthage softball returns to Wiers Family Stadium and Barbara Madrigano Field on Wednesday, March 18 against Concordia University Chicago. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.