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

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

BELOIT, Wis. (Mar. 31, 2011)-- A pair of big innings propelled the North Central College softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Beloit College on Thursday at the Strong Complex. Brianna Nelson tossed a no-hitter in the opener, blanking the host Buccaneers 9-0 before the Cardinals rallied for the 5-2 victory in the nightcap, extending their win streak to seven games.

Nelson (6-0) fanned three batters and issued just two walks in the five-inning contest, collecting her sixth victory of the year and tossing just the 15th no-hitter in program history.

The Cardinals (10-2) and Buccaneers (2-10) were scoreless heading into the third inning of game one before North Central piled on seven runs, exploiting three Beloit errors. Erin Drennan led off the inning, reaching base on an error before advancing to third on singles by Mary Caron and Lauren Schramm. Laura Whitfield cleared the bases with a 3-RBI double to center field, later scoring on a Alyssa Rabulinski sacrifice bunt. Colleen Drennan drove in the frame's fifth run while Buccaneer errors allowed two more runs to score.

Erin Drennan blasted a two-RBI triple in the top of the fifth, giving the visitors a nine-run buffer and enacting the mercy rule. Drennan finished the game two-for-four with a pair of RBIs to lead the offense.

A four run seventh inning proved to be the difference in the nightcap as the Cardinals utilized the late run to escape with the 5-2 victory and the series sweep.

Beloit struck first with a solo home run in the third inning off the bat of Sarah Stariha. North Central matched the Bucs in the fifth with Erin Drennan knocking in Colleen Drennan, who led off the inning with a bunt single.

The Buccaneers regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth with another solo home run shot before the Cardinals piled on four runs in the seventh to take the lead. Erin Drennan tied the score with an RBI double before Schramm plated three runs with a home run blast over the left center field fence.

Erin Drennan once again powered the offensive attack, collecting two of the team's five hits. Katie Crawford (2-1) picked up the victory in the circle, tossing all seven innings and striking out four. Her counterpart, Tess Jacquez (1-4) was saddled with the loss, allowing five earned runs and striking out three.

The Cardinals open up their home schedule on Saturday at 12 p.m., taking on non-conference foe Aurora University in a doubleheader at Shanower Field.