If the Carthage College women's softball team is to make it to the championship game of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament, the Lady Reds will have to do so the hard way.

Carthage (25-11, 7-7 CCIW) lost 1-0 to top seed and No. 12-ranked Illinois Wesleyan Friday at Bloomington, Ill., in the first round of the CCIW Tournament. The Lady Reds, the fourth seed in the tournament, came back and beat Augustana 2-0 in a losers' bracket game to stay alive.

Wesleyan pitcher Christy Engel shut out the Lady Reds on five hits, walked one and struck out 10.

Wesleyan (28-14) scored the only run of the game in the first without the benefit of a hit. Monica Urban was hit by a pitch to open the inning, stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. One out later, Valerie Hackett walked, putting runners at first and third. Maggie Olson pinch ran for Hackett and Urban scored on the front end of a double steal.

Carthage pitcher Kelsey Epping allowed four hits and four walks in six innings.

Against Augustana, Carthage jumped to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Jacquelyn Tassone was hit by a pitch leading off and Kari Peterson followed with a two-run homer. Carthage pitcher Allie Benthusen shut out the Vikings (28-14) on four hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out six.

Carthage plays Illinois Wesleyan at 10 a.m. today in a semifinal game.

Tennis

CARTHAGE MEN: The top-seeded Red Men had a first-round bye in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament being held at Carthage's Smeds Tennis Center in Kenosha, then beat fifth-seeded Augustana 5-2 in a semifinal match.

Led by Jack Schiro at No. 1 singles, the Red Men won five of the six singles matches and two of the three doubles matches.

Carthage (16-6) plays Wheaton at 1 p.m. today in the championship match.

CARTHAGE WOMEN: The second-seeded Lady Reds opened play in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament at Carthage's Smeds Tennis Center in Kenosha with a 9-0 victory over third-seeded Illinois Wesleyan Friday.

Beth Kaufman led the singles sweep with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Allison Heim at No. 1 and Gina Klein and Taylor Gustafson led the doubles sweep with an 8-1 victory over Heim and Kristen Piotrowski at No. 1.

Carthage will play Wheaton at 1 p.m. today for the championship.

Men's golf

CARTHAGE: The Red Men remain in second place after the third round of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Golf Championship.

The first two rounds were played April 17-18 at Springfield, Ill. Round 3 was Friday at the Whisper Creek Golf Club in Huntley, Ill.

Carthage shot 303 Friday and is 22 strokes behind Illinois Wesleyan going into today's final round at Whisper Creek.

Carthage has three golfers among the top 10: Matt Carr is fourth at 70-70-76-216, Tim Gannon is seventh at 72-69-76-217 and Tyler Wollberg is eighth at 71-73-75-219.