ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Elmhurst women's softball team evened its record at 18-18 overall and 8-8 in the CCIW by holding off Carroll University 3-2 at the Dome at the Ballpark.
 
Elmhurst completed the two-game series sweep of the Pioneers with the win. The Bluejays won the opening game of the series on Saturday (April 29) before rain forced the postponement of the second game.
 
Elmhurst scored two runs in the top of the first to jump out to an early lead. Val Perrelli led off the game with a single and promptly stole second. Lauren Rismondo doubled in Perrelli to put Elmhurst up 1-0. An RBI single from Rebekah Ondracek gave Elmhurst a 2-0 advantage.

Elmhurst tracked on an insurance run in the seventh. Perrelli walked to lead off the inning and moved to third on Rismondo's single. A squeeze bunt by Erin Steik scored Perrelli to give Elmhurst a three-run cushion.
 
The insurance run proved necessary as Carroll mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh. The Pioneers led off the inning with three straight singles to load the bases. A groundout from Kelsey Edwards put the Pioneers on the board at 3-1. Kara McCaughrean singled to left to pull Carroll to within one and chase Elmhurst starter Stefanie Sanidas in the process. Elmhurst's Tara Cannella made a leaping grab of Rosie Crane's line drive at first base for the second out. Cannella came down on the bag, turning an unassisted double play to end the contest.
 
Sanidas picked up her eighth victory of the season, allowing just seven hits and two runs over 6.1 innings of work. Sanidas retired the first 10 hitters of the game and did not allow a hit until the fifth innings. Sanidas did not issue a walk and struck out three before running into trouble in the seventh. Emily Despain recorded the save in relief for Elmhurst.  
 
Elmhurst will await the results of the North Central/Augustana doubleheader tomorrow to determine if the Bluejays qualify for the CCIW Tournament. Elmhurst needs Augustana to sweep the doubleheader from North Central in order to qualify for the tournament.