Augustana 5, Carthage 4
Carthage 8, Augustana 5
KENOSHA, Wis. - The Carthage softball team hosted the Augustana Vikings at Wiers Family Stadium on Saturday. It was a special day for the Firebirds, as the team celebrated Senior Day by recognizing Hana Adler, Emma Faubel, Gwen Hendrick, Olivia Hristov, and Clare Rettler in a pregame ceremony. The Firebirds went on to split the doubleheader with the Vikings.



GAME ONE

The Firebirds got on the board in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI single to left field from Hristov brought home Rettler to give the Firebirds the lead. Carthage then extended the lead with an RBI single up the middle for Isabel Bates which brought home Hristov and Rachael Setterstrom and gave the Firebirds a 3-0 advantage. 

Carthage added another run in the second inning as Rettler hit a solo home run over the left field fence to make it a 4-0 game.

The Vikings rallied back in the fifth inning, scoring a pair of runs on an Alexis Duke home run and cutting the deficit to 4-2. 

A pair of RBI doubles for Aubrey Gradin and Madi Bickell brought home three runs in the top of the sixth inning, giving the Vikings the lead and eventual victory at 5-4.

PITCHING DECISIONS
W: Mya Brown (2-7)
L: Emma Faubel (9-4)

GAME TWO

The Vikings jumped ahead 1-0 in the top of the first inning with an RBI single for Bickell. The Firebirds answered right away in the bottom of the first with an RBI single from Hristov that scored Hendrick to tie the game at 1-1.

Augustana retook the lead in the top of the second inning with Emma Evans scoring on an error.

The Vikings then extended their lead in the third inning with an RBI double from Evans to make it a 3-1 game.

A Carthage error extended the Vikings lead further in the fourth inning as Mikaylin Hofer came in to score the fourth run of the contest. Carthage retaliated in the bottom of the fourth inning, starting off with an RBI single for Peyton Kryza to cut the deficit to 4-2. An infield single for Adler cut the deficit to one run before the Firebirds tied the game on a wild pitch that allowed Bates to score from third. Rylee Boyd then singled up the middle to score Jillian Olsen and give Carthage a 5-4 lead. Hendrick then singled up the middle, scoring Rettler and Boyd, to extend the lead to 7-4.

The Firebirds added an insurance run in the sixth inning as Kryza scored on a wild pitch to make it an 8-4 ball game.

The Vikings added a run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly for Olivia Osborne, but the Firebirds would go on to earn the 8-5 victory.

PITCHING DECISIONS:
W: Olivia Hristov (1-2)
L: Mikaylin Hofer (1-1)




HITTING

• Clare Rettler: 4-6, 3 R, 1 RBI, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 3 SB, 1 HBP
• Olivia Hristov: 3-7, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB
• Isabel Bates: 3-7, 1 R 1 RBI, 1 2B
• Gwen Hendrick: 2-7, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 SB
• Rachael Setterstrom: 2-6, 1 R, 1 HBP

PITCHING

• Olivia Hristov: 7.0 IP, 11 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Emma Faubel: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, .200 OBA
• Anais Fernandez: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

The Firebirds (18-12, 7-3 CCIW) return to action on Sunday, April 19 against Millikin University in Decatur, Ill with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Carthage softball returns to Wiers Family Stadium on Tuesday, April 21 for the final regular season home series against Elmhurst University. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.