FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Tucson, Ariz. (Mar. 22, 2010)-- It was a day of rematches for the North Central College softball squad on Monday at the Tucson Invitational Games, falling 9-7 to Whitworth University (Wash.) to even the series before utilizing extra innings to down Otterbein College (Ohio), 6-5, for the second time in three days.

The Cardinals jumped out to the early 3-1 lead after two innings before Whitworth (4-9) responded with eight runs over the next five innings to take a commanding 9-3 edge heading into the bottom of the seventh. Three straight singles and a three-run home run shot by Laura Whitfield pulled North Central to within two runs forcing a Pirate pitching change.

Jessica Mangis replaced Jessica Dickson, inducing a double play and striking out a batter to pick up the save and preserve the Whitworth victory.

Holly Roadruck went the distance in the circle, allowing five earned runs and striking out four while Dickson earned the win for the Pirates, tossing the middle four innings and striking out two.

Whitfield finished two-for-three at the plate to lead the Cardinals while Erin Drennan and Katie Pappa each went two-for-four with an RBI.

Against Otterbein (1-7), a scoreless first inning gave way to a three-run second for the Cardinals with Kara Reid leading off the inning with a base knock. Alyssa Rabulinski followed that up with a double before getting driven home by a Mary Caron single. Kelli Lofgren would score the inning's third run, scoring on a passed ball after drawing a walk to get on base.

The Cardinals extended their lead to 4-0 in the fourth inning before Otterbein's offense began to heat up. 10 hits over the final three innings tied the game at 5 apiece for Otterbein before an Erin Drennan single to right center brought home Caron in the bottom of the eighth for the extra innings win.   

Despite not yielding a hit until the fourth inning, Lyndsey Payne received the no-decision, pitching the game's first 6 1/3 innings before making way for  Roadruck who allowed just one hit over the final 1 2/3 innings to secure the victory.

Reid and Erin Drennan each tallied three hits to pace the Cardinal offense while Roadruck finished two-for-four.

North Central (6-2) closes out its Arizona trip tomorrow, facing George Fox University (Ore.) at 9 a.m. (Pacific) before taking on Otterbein for the third time in four days at 11 a.m. (Pacific).