Carthage 8, Concordia Chicago 7 (8 innings)
Carthage 7, Concordia Chicago 1
KENOSHA, Wis. - The Carthage softball team hosted the Concordia University Chicago Cougars on Wednesday afternoon at Wiers Family Stadium. The Firebirds battle through the opener to claim an extra-innings victory before cruising to a convincing win over the Cougars in the finale.



GAME ONE

The Firebirds opened the scoring with an RBI single from Leiah Cardona brought home Peyton Kryza in the second inning to give Carthage a 1-0 lead. The Firebirds extended their lead further in the third inning as Gwen Hendrick doubled to left center field to score Rylee Boyd. Hendrick then scored on an RBI single from Olivia Hristov. 

The Cougars responded in the top of the fourth inning with a pair of runs from on an RBI double for Mayah Larenas and a sacrifice fly from Eliza Auger to cut the Carthage lead to 3-2.

The Firebirds responded in the bottom of the fourth as Boyd hit a triple to center field to score Clare Rettler and Cardona. The throw into third was offline and allowed Boyd to score on the play to give the Firebirds a 6-3 lead.

Arissa Santos and Larenas added two more runs for the Cougars in the fifth inning and an RBI single from McKyler Morris in the sixth inning tied the game at 6-6. The Cougars then took the lead in the top of the seventh with an RBI single from Julia Pataluna, bringing the score to 7-6.

The Firebirds tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning as Cardona hit a sacrifice fly to left field and brought home Rachael Setterstrom. The Firebirds held the Cougars scoreless in the top of the eighth inning and the winning run came home as an error from the Cougars allowed Isabel Bates to score.

PITCHING DECISIONS
W: Emma Faubel (4-3)
L: Morgan Houfek (1-3)

GAME TWO

The Cougars got on the scoreboard first in the second inning as an RBI single for Auger gave Concordia a 1-0 lead.

The Firebirds responded in the bottom of the third inning as a throwing error from the Cougars catcher allowed Hana Adler to score from third base. Later in the inning, Hristov doubled to right center and brought home Hendrick and Boyd to give Carthage a 3-1 lead. A triple from Rettler brought home two more runs in the fourth inning, before an RBI single from Boyd extended the Carthage lead to 6-1. The final run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Hendrick hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Boyd and gave the Firebirds a 7-1 victory.

PITCHING DECISIONS:
W: Anais Fernandez (3-2)
L: Alyssa Campos (1-3)




HITTING

• Olivia Hristov: 5-8, 3 RBI, 1 2B, 1 BB
• Clare Rettler: 5-9, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 3B, 3 SB
• Rylee Boyd: 3-8, 4 R, 3 RBI, 1 2B, 1 3B
• Gwen Hendrick: 2-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 2B
• Peyton Kryza: 3-7, 1 R, 2 2B
• Hana Adler: 5-8, 2 R, 2 2B
• Leiah Cardona: 2-3, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 SB

PITCHING

• Anais Fernandez: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 K

The Firebirds (11-9) return to action on Wednesday, April 8 as the team opens conference play against North Park in Chicago, Ill. at 3 p.m. Carthage softball returns to Wiers Family Stadium on April 11 against Wheaton at 1 p.m. The games will be streamed live on the CCIW Network. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.