Mount St. Joseph 5, Carthage 2
Carthage 8, Calvin 2
CLERMONT, Fla. - The Carthage softball team continued its season opening Florida trip with a pair of games against the Mount St. Joseph University Lions and the Calvin University Knights on Monday. The Firebirds came up short in the opening game against the Lions, before bouncing back and earning a convincing win over the Knights.



VS MOUNT ST. JOSEPH

Clare Rettler opened the game with an infield single before stealing her 10th base of the year to get into scoring position. A flyout to center field moved Rettler to third and a groundout from Gwen Hendrick plated the Firebirds first run of the game. The Lions found the hit column in the first inning with a one out single for Avery Wiltermood. Carthage starter Emma Faubel forced the next two outs with a strike out and a foul out to leave the runner stranded and keep the Lions out of the run column. 

The Firebirds went down one-two-three in the top of the second inning. The Lions once again found themselves with a one out baserunner, this time with Kayla Bain reaching on a fielding error. Faubel once again found a way to strand the runner and keep the Firebirds ahead with a one-run lead. 

Rettler utilized a bunt single to reach base safely with one out in the top of the third inning, but was later thrown out at second in an unsuccessful attempt to steal the base. Rylee Boyd then tripled down the right field line to give the Firebirds a runner in scoring position with two outs in the inning. Hendrick smacked a ball to right field for an RBI single, notching her second RBI of the contest. The Firebirds took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the third. A leadoff single for Alayna Flynn gave the Lions some life to open the bottom of the third. Wiltermood reached first on a fielder's choice as the Firebirds defense made the play to get Flynn out at second base. The Lions then found their way onto the run column with a two-out RBI single to right center for Kaitlyn Randle, cutting the deficit to 2-1. 

Addison Simonson reached base on a walk in the fourth inning, but fell victim to a 6-3 double play that ended the inning early for the Firebirds. A leadoff walk for Sydney Hughbanks got the bottom of the inning started for the Lions. An error and a sacrifice bunt placed two runners in scoring position with one out before a walk for Skylar Fletcher loaded the bases. A sacrifice flyout to left field brought home Hughbanks and tied the game at 2-2.

Back to back singles for Leiah Cardona and Rettler put two runners on for Carthage in the top of the fifth inning, but a groundout and a popout ended the inning with the runners stranded on base. Anais Fernandez came in to pitch for the Firebirds, relieving Faubel after four innings of work. Back to back walks put runners on to open the innings, but Fernandez settled in and forced three straight ground balls to end the inning without allowing a run.

The Firebirds went away in order in the top of the sixth inning. A leadoff single for Calli Fletcher and a walk for S. Fletcher put two on with no one out to open the bottom half of the frame. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners over and an RBI single for Shelby Rakosky brought both runners home, giving the Lions a 4-2 lead. Raksoky advanced to second on the play and then moved to third on a passed ball. An RBI single for Wintermood would plate the final run of the game, securing a 5-2 win for the Lions

VS CALVIN

Carthage starter Emma Asien set the Knights down in order to open the ball game, before the Firebirds also went down in order in the bottom half of the first inning. Both teams remained scoreless through the second and third innings.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Knights had two runners in scoring position with no outs thanks to a Firebirds error and a double from Natalie Bush.  A sacrifice fly brought home the first run of the game for the Knights and an error by the Firebirds allowed another, giving the Knights a 2-0 lead. A double from Hendrick gave the Firebirds an opportunity to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning, but were unsuccessful at plating the run.

The Knights were held scoreless in the top of the fifth inning despite a two out single from Carly Dole. Hana Adler opened the inning with a single up the middle before being substituted for pinch runner Jessica Craig. Cardona reached first safely on a bunt single, advancing Craig to second base. A groundout advanced the runners into scoring position before Boyd reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Hendrick then launched a double into left field, plating all three base runners and giving the Firebirds a 3-2 lead. A base hit for Hristov gave the Firebirds two runners on base with one out in the inning. A base hit for Rachael Setterstrom scored both Hendrick and Hristov to extend the Carthage lead to 5-2. 

After another scoreless top half of the inning in the sixth, the Firebirds offense kept rolling. Cardona got the inning going with a one out single before Rettler reached on an infield error. Another error allowed Boyd to reach base safely and bring home Cardona to make it a four-run game. A single up the middle for Hendrick scored both Rettler and Boyd and brought the score to an 8-2 victory for the Firebirds.


 

• Gwen Hendrick: 4-7, R, 7 RBI, 2 2B, 1 SB
• Clare Rettler: 3-6, 2 R, 2 SB, 1 BB
• Leiah Cardona: 4-6, 2 R, 2 SB
• Rylee Boyd: 1-8, 3 R, 3B
• Emma Asien - 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, first collegiate win

The Firebirds (3-3) return to action on Wednesday, March 11 for another Florida doubleheader against Wesleyan University at 9 a.m. EST and East Texas Baptist University at 11:30 a.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.