Millikin 5, Carthage 4
Millikin 4, Carthage 1
DECATUR, Ill. - The Carthage softball team traveled south on Sunday for a CCIW doubleheader against the Millikin Big Blue. The Firebirds held a lead early in the opener, but ultimately came up short as Carthage was swept by the Big Blue.



GAME ONE

The Firebirds got on the board in the top of the first inning with an RBI double to left center field from Gwen Hendrick that scored Clare Rettler to give Carthage a 1-0 lead. 

The Firebirds added on to their lead in the top of the third inning when Olivia Hristov hit a three-run home run to center field to extend the lead to 4-0. The Big Blue responded in the bottom of the third inning with a two-run home run from Ann Marie Meek to cut the deficit to 4-2.

The Big Blue added another run in the fourth inning as Abbey Matthews hit an RBI double to left center field and scored Brianna Denault to bring Millikin back within a run of the lead. 

Millikin then tied the game in the sixth inning with an RBI single from Matthews that scored Emily Kobel. The Big Blue then walked off with the victory in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI single for Summer Wynn that scored Abby Willis to give Millikin the 5-4 win over the Firebirds. 

PITCHING DECISIONS
W: Alyssa Dralle (10-6)
L: Anais Fernandez (9-5)

GAME TWO

Meek hit an RBI double in the bottom of the first inning to score Charley Condill and give the Big Blue a 1-0 lead. 

The Firebirds retaliated and tied the game in the top of the third inning with an RBI single from Rettler that scored Leiah Cardona. The Big Blue wasted no time reclaiming the lead with a home run from Meek in the bottom of the third to give Millikin a 2-1 lead. 

Ava Zukowski doubled to left center to score Denault and extend the lead to 3-1. The final insurance run came in the bottom of the fifth as Kailyn Coates singled to bring home Willis and secure the 4-1 victory.

PITCHING DECISIONS:
W: Abby Wilken (6-1)
L: Eden Younbauer (2-1)




HITTING

• Clare Rettler: 4-8, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B, 2 SB
• Rylee Boyd: 2-6, 1 R, 2 SB
• Gwen Hendrick: 1 RBI, 1 2B
• Olivia Hristov: 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 HR
• Isabel Bates: 1 2B
• Hana Adler: 1 2B

PITCHING

• Eden Youngbauer: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
• Emma Faubel: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Anais Fernandez: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
• Ellie Fapp: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1K

The Firebirds (18-14, 7-5 CCIW) return to Wiers Family Stadium on Tuesday, April 21 for the final regular season home series against Elmhurst University. Action is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. and will be streamed live on the CCIW Network. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.