ELMHURST,  Ill. – The Elmhurst softball team rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth to score a 5-4 win over Carroll University.

The second game of the scheduled doubleheader was postponed due to rain.
 
The game started as a pitchers' dual between Elmhurst's Stefanie Sanidas and Carroll's Amanda Osterhus. Neither pitcher allowed a run through the first four innings while breezing through the batting order. Elmhurst broke through in the bottom of the fifth when Val Perrelli smashed a two-run homer over the left field fence to score the first runs of the game and give Elmhurst a 2-0 lead.
 
A single and an error by the Bluejays allowed Carroll to put the tying runs on base in the top of the seventh. Carroll scored a run in the on a groundout to pull to within one. A two out, pinch-hit single from Haylee Arroyo drove in the game-tying run from second.
 
Elmhurst had a chance in the bottom of the seventh, putting runners at second and third with just one out, but a diving catch on a low line drive and a pop out ended the Bluejays' chance and sent the game to extra innings.
 
Carroll went back in front in the top of the eighth with a two-out double from Kelly Strasser but Elmhurst answered back in the bottom of the eighth. Mikayla Melone narrowly missed tying the game, doubling off the fence with two outs. Stephanie Sturino followed with an RBI single to right field to extend the contest.
 
Carroll reclaimed the lead in the ninth on a Kara McCaughrean RBI single. Elmhurst once again found the answer in the bottom of the inning. Tara Cannella led off the inning with a double. Cannella moved to third on a bunt single from Emily Despain and Despain promptly stole second to put runners at second and third with no outs. A walk to Perrelli loaded the bases for the Bluejay. After a strikeout, the Bluejays took advantage of a Carroll error as Sydney Ruotsi's grounder was thrown over the catchers head allowing Cannella to score the tying run. Rebekah Ondracek's bases loaded walk forced home the winning run for Elmhurst.
 
Mikayla Melone collected three of the Bluejays' nine hits to lead Elmhurst at the plate in the loss. Melone narrowly missed a pair of home runs, doubling off the outfield fence on two occasions.

Sanidas took a no-decision for Elmhurst, scattering seven hits and allowing just one earned run over eight innings of work. She walked one while striking out eight. Emily Despain earned the win in relief, pitching one inning and allowing one unearned run and two hits. Osterhus took the loss for Carroll tossing 8.1 innings and allowing nine hits and five runs (two earned). She walked three while striking out 13.
 
Elmhurst will make up the second game against Carroll on Monday, May 1 at the Bandits Stadium in Rosemont. The game will begin at 4:00 p.m. Elmhurst's doubleheader against the University of Chicago, scheduled originally for May 1, has been postponed.