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Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (Apr. 14, 2011)-- Unhinged by an anemic offense in the opener, the North Central College softball team regrouped in game two, piling on eight runs over a two inning span to escape with a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin doubleheader split against 21st-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University on Thursday afternoon. IWU took game one 4-0 before the Cardinals rallied for the 8-7 win in the nightcap.

The Titans (16-8, 4-2 CCIW) Emma Clark was a one-woman wrecking crew in game one, driving in all four runs in the home squad's 4-0 victory. IWU opened the scoring in the third inning with Clark belting a two-RBI single to left field with two outs. Clark would strike again in the fifth inning, belting a two-run home run with two outs to conclude the scoring.

The Cardinals (17-7, 4-2 CCIW) looked have some momentum going after back-to-back singles by Alyssa Rabulinski and Colleen Drennan with one out in the top of the seventh off relief pitcher Victoria Whitaker. The Titans defense buckled down however, getting out number two on a fielder's choice before inducing a groundout to end the game.

North Central mustered just four hits in the game with two coming in the final inning of play.

Vlasta Mangia absorbed the loss, tossing six innings and allowing six hits. Molly McCready (4-2) picked up the win, tossing six innings and striking out four and allowing just two hits while Whitaker allowed two hits in one inning of action.

Falling into an early 5-0 hole, the Cardinals battled back in game two, pouring on eight runs over a two-inning span to secure the win and salvage a series split.

Wesleyan pushed two runs across in each of the first two innings of play. Kaity Crane drove in the game's first run on a single to right field before Clark scored the opening frame's second run on a Cardinal error.

The Titans doubled their lead in the second with a Sara Daley two-run home run blast with two outs before adding an unearned run in the third for a 5-0 cushion.

The Cardinals offense came alive in the third inning, pounding out four hits and taking advantage of an IWU fielding miscue to score three runs, cutting the deficit to just two. Mary Caron led off the frame with a single to left center field before Lauren Schramm reached base successfully on an error. Laura Whitfield made the Titans pay for their mistake, belting a three-run home run blast over the left center field fence. It was the senior's team leading fifth home run of the season.

IWU answered with a solo home run shot by Daley in the top of the fourth inning before the Cardinals grabbed the lead in the bottom of the inning courtesy of a five-run outburst.

A Schramm single up the middle scored Erin Drennan, who led off the inning with a single through the left side. Justine Walker singled in Schramm before a Rabulinski single plated two more runs. A Colleen Drennan single plated Rabulinski for what turned out to be the game winning run, giving the visiting Cardinals the 8-6 edge.

A Kris Lee double in the fifth scored Crane for what turned out to be the final run of the game as Mangia stifled the Titans over the final two innings of play, allowing just three hits in relief of Brianna Nelson to pick up her first save of the season.

Whitfield, Walker, Rabulinski and Colleen Drennan all finished with multiple hits in game two, helping the squad pound out 12 hits in the win.

Nelson (10-2) picked up the win in the circle, tossing five innings and allowing five earned runs before giving way to Mangia. Whitaker suffered the loss for the Titans, allowing five earned runs over four innings of work.

The Cardinals return to the diamond on Saturday, hosting the 21st Annual NCC Invitational. Action begins at 11 a.m. with Monmouth College (Ill.) vs. Calvin College (Mich.) before North Central takes the field at 1 p.m. against Calvin. The Cardinals close out the day with a 3 p.m. showdown with Monmouth.