KENOSHA, Wis. — Carthage pitchers limited Augustana to just two hits in each game of Monday's doubleheader, winning 8-0 and 5-0. The Vikings dropped to 7-25 overall and 4-20 in the CCIW, while the host Firebirds improved to 15-13 on the year and 13-11 in the conference. Coach Kris Kistler's club is scheduled to host Elmhurst in a twin bill at Carver Field on Friday, April 30.
 
CARTHAGE 8, AUGUSTANA 0
 
Carthage gave starter Stefanie Guercio all the runs she would need in the bottom of the first. Bella Spittler reached on an error leading off and two outs later, Rylee Johnson touched Cecelia Peine (Holt HS, Wentzville, Mo.) for a two-run homer to left center.
 
Makenzie Miller's two-run single in the third made it 4-0 and the Firebirds added four in the fifth. Courtney Polanski's two-run triple to center made it 8-0, ending the game.
 
Meanwhile, Guercio allowed just two hits and one walk while fanning eight in five frames. She improved to 6-6 with the win. Peine (1-8), who took the loss, went two innings and Erin Smith (Columbine HS, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) the final 2 2/3.
 
Both of Augustana's hits were triples off the bat of freshman Nadia Ranieri (Riverside-Brookfield HS, North Riverside, Ill.)—the first with one out in the second and another with two out in the fourth.
 
CARTHAGE 5, AUGUSTANA 0
 
In the nightcap, it was Ellie Bernero who held the Viking bats in check.
 
Bernero's teammates struck quickly again, scoring four in the top of the first off Amanda Page (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.). Spittler led off with an infield hit and two batters later, Izzy Hernandez singled her in. Miller doubled in a pair of runs and Maddie Conway made it 4-0 with an RBI single.
 
Hernandez's sacrifice fly in the second scored Donna Stevens to make it 5-0 Carthage.
 
Ranieri, who relieved Page in the first, went 5 2/3 innings and allowed just three hits and one unearned run. She walked none and struck out seven. Shaye Arwood (Wheaton Warrenville South HS, Wheaton, Ill.) threw a 1-2-3 seventh, but the Augustana offense could never get going against Bernero or reliever Becca Mentzer.
 
Bernero (7-6) allowed only one hit while fanning six in four innings to get the win. Menzter gave up just one hit in three scoreless frames. Neither issued a base-on-balls. Page (0-1) took the loss.
 
Freshmen Jennica Soliz (Moline HS, Moline, Ill.) and Allyson Fricano (Lake Park HS, Itasca, Ill.) had the Vikings' two hits.