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Contact: Kim Ippolito, Graduate Assistant to Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

LAKE FOREST Ill. (May 8, 2015) – Due to weather, the North Central College softball team will wrap up their game against the Lake Forest College Foresters on Saturday where the Cardinals will pick up on offense in the top of the seventh with one out and one person on first base, currently down 2-1 in the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament. The winner of this game will advance to the championship round. Earlier on Friday the Cardinals dropped their first game against the Hope College Flying Dutch 5-0.

Currently in game two, North Central (32-8) and Lake Forest had a quiet game at the plate, with no score leading into the sixth. Andrea Starr was then able to smack one into the outfield for an RBI to get ahead 1-0, but the Foresters responded at the bottom of the sixth with a single to left center for two runs.

The Cardinals left the game with a runner on first base at the top of the seventh inning. Kiersten TInkoff will return to the plate with a 2-2 count and one out as they look to tie the game and move on to the championship round.

In game one, the Cardinals struggled at the plate, unable to consistently put the ball in play as the Flying Dutch (29-9) took an early 2-0 lead.
"Hope played really well in all phases," said head coach Jim Kulawiak. "We had a few missed cues, offensively we did not hold up very well."

Jordyn Beck tried to get things going in the third with a single up the middle, but was unable to advance any further.

At the top of the fourth, the Flying Dutch snagged two singles and a double to push the lead up 4-0.

Pitcher Sarah Esposito entered the game in the fifth trying to hold Hope to its few runs, snagging a pair of strikeouts.

"I knew I had to come in strong," said Esposito. "I knew I had a solid defense behind me."

At the bottom of the fifth, Corrine Rowe singled to left field to start the inning. Esposito followed with a hard hit ball down the left field line to get two on with no outs. Unfortunately the Cardinals couldn't push them in, getting shutout 5-0.

"Sarah (Esposito) did a great job," said Kulawiak. "We were very close. If we had a big hit it would've changed the complexion of the game. Unfortunately we weren't able to get them to fall, it could've been different."

North Central returns to action against Lake Forest at 11 a.m. on Saturday with the championship round scheduled for 12 p.m.