The Millikin softball team started off their Wisconsin road trip with a visit to Kenosha for a matchup with the Firebirds of Carthage College. They pulled off a sweep to improve to 8-4 in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play.  

In game one, the Big Blue got on the board first when an RBI groundout off the bat of Anna Enlow plated Charley Condill. The Firebirds quickly evened the score and added four more to take a 1-5 lead. 

Millikin got to work erasing the deficit, starting with a Condill single to right in the sixth that scored Ava Zukowski and Ann Marie Meek. They evened the score on an Abby Willis double to right center that scored Emily Kobel and Condill. Then, a double steal with Summer Wynn heading second brought Willis home on the throw to second to give MU a 6-5 lead. 

The Firebirds tied things up in the bottom of the inning, and after a scoreless seventh and eight, Millikin delivered the go-ahead run on a single by Zukowski through the left side that scored Kendallyn Davison in the top of the ninth. 

Millikin went three up, three down defensively in the bottom of the ninth to secure the 7-6 win as the visitors in the opening game of the doubleheader. 

Kelsey Bruno pitched 6.0 innings for the Big Blue, striking out 10 in the win. Alyssa Dralle recorded a save, striking out three and holding the Firebirds hitless through 3.0 innings of work. 

In game one, Meek and Zukowski each went 3-for-5 from the plate, and Condill went 2-for-4. 

Then, it was onto game two with Millikin as the home team. The Firebirds scored a run in the third, then tacked on two more in the fourth to put MU down 0-3. 

In the bottom of the fourth, a bunt single by Bella Palermo scratched Davison across. Then, Zukowski doubled to score Palermo and Condill's infield single brought Meek home to knot the score at three runs apiece. 

Millikin took the lead later in the fourth on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Willis that brought Zukowski home.

Once the Big Blue had the 4-3 lead, they never looked back, building on their lead in the fifth. Kailyn Coates sent a double out to left center to bring home Anna Enlow. Palermo brought home another run on a double to right field that scored Abbey Matthews. Zukowski's sacrifice fly that plated Palermo furthered the lead to 7-3, then Kobel singled to left field to bring Meek home. 

Millikin tacked on their ninth and final run when Condill crossed the plate on a passed ball in the sixth, taking game two in the sweep 9-3. 

Palermo was 3-for-3 at the plate in game two, and Meek and Condill each went 2-for-3. 

Carly Ward picked up the win in the circle, striking out two and allowing seven Carthage hits. Alyssa Dralle provided three innings of relief. 

Millikin will be back in action on Sunday, April 27 when they head over to Waukesha to meet the Pioneers of Carroll University for their second CCIW doubleheader of the weekend.