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

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

Apr. 22, 2010-- The 16th-ranked North Central College softball team sent off its three seniors in style on Thursday afternoon, sweeping College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin rival Wheaton College, 2-1 and 3-1 in the regular season home finale at Shanower Field. Kelli Lofgren scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh in game one on a Thunder throwing error while an Erin Drennan two-run home run powered the Cardinals to the series sweep in game two.

Wheaton (20-18, 4-8 CCIW) opened up the scoring in the second inning of game one, plating a run on an RBI single by Jenna Lawrenz. North Central (26-8, 8-4 CCIW) countered in the bottom of the fourth with Lauren Schramm belting a two-out solo home run over the left field fence, knotting the score at one apiece.

Ashley Barry reached base on an error to begin the seventh inning before getting replaced by pinch runner Kelli Lofgren. Lofgren advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before later scoring on a Thunder throwing error to score the winning run with two outs.

Making her final regular season home start, Holly Roadruck (10-4) earned the win in the circle, striking out eight while allowing just two walks in seven innings of work. Her counterpart, Ainsley McCullough (11-10) suffered the loss, allowing one earned run and striking out three in 6 2/3 innings.

The Thunder drew first blood in game two, as a Katie Iser sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the first brought in Adrienne Munoz, who led off the inning with a double to left field. The Cardinals countered in the third as Erin Drennan blasted a two-run home run over the left field fence with two outs to give the home side the 2-1 edge.

North Central pushed across an insurance run in the sixth as a Katie Pappa single brought in Lauren Schramm, who led off the inning by drawing a walk.

Lyndsey Payne (9-3) picked up the victory in the circle, allowing six hits and one earned run in seven innings of action while Danielle Schmidt (8-8) was hit with the loss, striking out four and allowing five hits in the complete game effort.

With the wins, the Cardinals close out their regular season home slate with a 15-1 mark at Shanower Field. North Central returns to the diamond on Tuesday, April 27, facing Lake Forest College in a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.