FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

Apr. 15, 2010-- The North Central College softball team maintained its hold of first place in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin standings after earning a doubleheader split with Illinois Wesleyan University on Thursday afternoon at Shanower Field. The Cardinals fell 5-0 in the opener before rebounding with the 2-1 victory in game two.

The Cardinals (22-6, 6-2 CCIW) were unable to touch Titan pitcher Christy Engel in game one as the righthander tossed a no-hitter, allowing just three base runners.

IWU (19-9, 5-3 CCIW) got on the board in the top of the first inning with Stephanie Polich leading off the game with a base hit to center field. Polich advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on a Cardinal fielding error to take the early 1-0 lead.

The Titans would tack on another run in the third inning courtesy of a Allison Ward single through the left side before exploiting more Cardinal miscues to plate three unearned runs in the fifth, concluding the scoring.

Holly Roadruck (9-3) was saddled with the loss, tossing all seven inning and allowing just one earned run. Engel (5-5) issued three walks and struck out six in seven innings of work to pick up the no-hitter and the victory.

North Central tallied three of its six hits in the first inning of game two, scoring two runs in what proved to be just enough offense to pull out the victory.

Erin Drennan belted a one-out single through the left side, later scoring on a Laura Whitfield double to center field. A Kara Reid single with two outs would bring home Whitfield, giving the home side the 2-0 advantage.

The Titans cut the deficit to just one in the bottom of the second as a Caitlin Carpenter base hit drove in pinch runner Sam Rubright for what turned out to be the game's final score.

Reid finished the game two-for-three with an RBI to lead the Cardinals while Lyndsey Payne (8-2) earned the win in the circle, allowing just three hits and allowing one run in seven innings of work. Her counterpart Alyssa Vorel (5-2) was credited with the loss, striking out four and allowing two earned runs.

With the win, head coach Jim Kulawiak closes to within two victories of becoming just the 10th active coach in Division III to reach the 600-win plateau, currently sitting with a career mark of 598-249-3 in 22 seasons at the helm.

North Central hosts the 20th-annual NCC Invitational on Saturday, taking on Calvin College (Mich.) at 1 p.m. before squaring off against Monmouth College (Ill.) at 3 p.m.