Carthage College Athletics

North Central (Ill.) 8, Carthage 5
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Carthage softball team competed in the opening day of the 2026 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Softball Tournament on Thursday afternoon at Illinois Wesleyan University. The fifth-seeded Firebirds opened the tournament against No. 4 seed North Central Cardinals, which featured a tightly fought battle that went the way of the Cardinals as the Firebirds season has drawn to a close.



The Cardinals found the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first inning when Lauren Bowmar grounded out to third base and scored Gwen Shouse to give North Central an early 1-0 lead.

The Firebirds responded in the top of the fourth inning, as Angela Parker hit a double to left center field that allowed Rachael Setterstrom to score and tie the game at 1-1.

Carthage then took the lead in the top of the fifth inning as an RBI single for Olivia Hristov brought home Clare Rettler to give the Firebirds a 2-1 lead. A double from Addison Simonson scored Setterstrom and Hristov to extend the lead to 4-1. The Firebirds fourth run of the inning came on an RBI single for Hana Adler to give Carthage a 5-1 lead.

The Cardinals answered right back in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Shouse hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Sydney Nienhouse. The Cardinals later had the bases loaded when Hailey Morsovillo hit a bases clearing double to tie the game at 5-5.

North Central continued to ride the momentum in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Cardinals took back the lead. Shouse got the action started with a double to left center that scored two runs to reset the lead at 7-5. An error allowed Gracie Vlach to reach first base safely and bring home Shousse to give the Cardinals an 8-5 lead that would hold as the Cardinals advanced to the next round.

PITCHING DECISIONS
W: Sam Schilf (11-7)
L: Eden Youngbauer (2-2)



 

• Olivia Hristov: 3-4 1 R, 1 RBI
• Clare Rettler: 2-4, 1 R, 1 SB
• Gwen Hendrick: 2-4, 1 SB
• Rachael Setterstrom: 1-2, 2 R, 1 BB
• Angela Parker: 1-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B, 1 BB

The Firebirds (20-21, 8-8 CCIW) have concluded the 2026 season. Carthage softball will return to action in the spring of 2027. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.