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Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

Apr. 10, 2010-- North Central College softball team pushed its win streak into double digits on Saturday, winning both ends of a twinbill against Millikin University at Shanower Field. The Cardinals posted the 5-0 shutout in the opener before closing out the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin series with a 9-3 victory, extending the squad's win streak to 11 games.

Taking advantage of two hits, two walks and two errors, the 24th-ranked Cardinals (20-4, 4-0 CCIW) posted four runs in the opening inning in what proved to be more than enough run support in the game one shutout victory.

Erin Drennan led off the inning, reaching base on an error before advancing to second on a Mary Caron sacrifice bunt. A Katie Pappa single and a Laura Whitfield walk loaded the bases before Lauren Schramm walked in Drennan while an alert Pappa scored on a throwing error. Kara Reid pushed the home side's advantage to four runs, plating Whitfield and Schramm on a double to right center field.

Caron pushed in the game's final run in the sixth inning, knocking a base hit up the middle to score Reid, who led off the frame with her second double of the afternoon.

Caron and Reid each finished two-for-three at the plate to lead the Cardinal offense, accounting for four of the squad's six hits.

It was a game of missed chances for Millikin (16-10, 1-3 CCIW), stranding 12 runners on base as pitcher Holly Roadruck (9-1) scattered nine hits to pick up her third shutout of the season. The junior struck out two while issuing just one walk. The Big Blue's Whitney Schafman (11-3) was hit with the loss, tossing six innings and yielding two earned runs.

North Central lit up the scoreboard early once again in game two, piling on three runs in the second inning to take the early edge.

Schramm led off the inning with a base hit t right field, later scoring on an Ashley Barry single to left field. Barry would come around on an Alyssa Rabulinski double before a Laura Constantine single plated the frame's third run.

Millikin countered in the bottom of the third, scoring two runs off a Schafman double down the right field line to pull within one.

Drennan blasted a triple to center field in the fourth, scoring on a two-out fielding error while a Schafman single in the fifth brought the Big Blue back to within one. North Central would score the game's final five runs to ice the victory.

Caron blasted the Cardinals' second triple of the day in the sixth, driving in two before a Rabulinski base knock in the seventh, brought in two more. A Caron single down the right field line scored Rabulinski for the afternoon's final run.

Rabulinski and Caron each tallied three RBIs in the game, finishing three-for-four and two-for-four, respectively as the Cardinals' out hit the visitors 15 to 6. Drennan turned in a three-for-five effort while Barry and Reid each collected a pair of hits.

Lyndsey Payne (6-2) earned the victory in the circle, striking out two in seven innings of work while Chevauna Adams (3-3) absorbs the loss for Millikin after allowing three runs and five hits, lasting just 1 1/3 innings.

With the wins, the Cardinals have now eclipsed the 20-win plateau for the 18th straight season, a streak dating all the way back to 1993.

North Central returns to the diamond on Tuesday, traveling to North Park University for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.