Illinois Wesleyan 1, Carthage 0
Illinois Wesleyan 8, Carthage 1
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Carthage softball team concluded CCIW regular season play on Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader against the Illinois Wesleyan University Titans at Inspiration Field. The Titans claimed the opener in a low scoring defensive battle before using a seven-run inning to earn the sweep over the Firebirds.



GAME ONE

The Titans found the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first inning when a fielder's choice scored Grace Wilkens to put Illinois Wesleyan ahead 1-0 over the Firebirds.

The Firebirds were held without a base runner until the fourth inning, where a pair of hits from Clare Rettler and Gwen Hendrick gave the Firebirds their first opportunity to score. The Titans worked out of the jam, however, throwing out Rettler at a play and the plate and then earning a strikeout to escape the inning unscathed. The Titans responded with two hits of their own to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning, but Carthage pitcher Emma Faubel worked out of the jam with three straight pop outs to keep it a 1-0 contest. 

The Firebirds had more opportunities to score in the fifth and sixth inning with a two-out single for Hana Adler in the fifth and a one-out single for Rylee Boyd in the sixth, but were denied once again by the Titans defense.

Carthage looked poised to make a comeback in the top of the top of the seventh inning as Rachael Setterstrom led off with a leadoff double down the left field line, followed by an infield single for Peyton Kryza. However, the rally would not come to fruition as the Titans found a way to force three outs without a run crossing the plate for the Firebirds.

PITCHING DECISIONS
W: Gianna Certa (10-2)
L: Anais Fernandez (3-4)

GAME TWO

The Firebirds struck first in the second game of the day with an RBI single in the top of the first inning from Isabel Bates to give Carthage a 1-0 lead.

The Titans responded in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly from Riley McDoniel to tie the game at 1-1.

Illinois Wesleyan's offense came alive in the sixth inning, starting off with a solo home run from Casey Wissmiller to give the Titans a 2-1 lead. The Titans then utilized a pair of RBI singles from Bella Pinter and Kelsey Bartels to plate four more runs. An RBI single for Wissmiller scored another pair of runs to give the Titans an 8-1 lead that would turn into a victory for the home squad.

PITCHING DECISIONS:
W: Caroline Gatchell (6-4)
L: Olivia Hristov (1-3)




HITTING

• Clare Rettler: 4-7, 1 R, 3 SB
• Gwen Hendrick: 2-5, 1 BB 1 SB
• Rachael Setterstrom: 2-6, 1 2B

PITCHING

• Emma Faubel: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, .143 OBA
• Anais Fernandez: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, .250 OBA

The Firebirds (19-17, 8-8 CCIW) return to action on Tuesday, April 28 against UChicago in Chicago, Ill. Action is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.