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Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

Apr. 30, 2011-- The North Central College softball squad closed out its five-game homestand on a positive note on Saturday afternoon, earning a doubleheader sweep of College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin rival Augustana College at Shanower Field. Vlasta Mangia provided the winning run in the opener with a solo home run shot in the 4-3 victory while Laura Whitfield blasted a two-run shot in game two, sparking a 12-run outburst over a two inning stretch in the 12-3 mercy rule win.

Augustana's (17-19, 5-9 CCIW) Melissa Nelson opened the scoring in the opener, belting a two run home run in the top of the first inning. The Cardinals (21-11, 7-5 CCIW) cut the deficit to just one run in the bottom of the frame with a Laura Whitfield single to right field knocking in Colleen Drennan.

The Vikings extended their advantage to 3-1 in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Stephanie Sarb before North Central tied the contest in the bottom of the fourth with a pair of unearned runs. Back-to-back errors, allowed two Cardinals to safely reach base, setting the table for RBI singles from Mary Caron and Erin Drennan.

Mangia helped her own cause in the bottom of the sixth, belting a solo home run shot that just cleared the left field foul pole for what turned out to be the decisive score.

Erin Drennan, Whitfield and Caron all finished with two hits and an RBI to lead the Cardinal offense.

Mangia (8-5) picked up the victory in the circle, striking out two in the complete game effort while Viking reliever Courtney Ledezma (0-2) suffered the loss, tossing one complete inning and yielding one earned run,

North Central fell into an early hole in game two before piling on 12 runs over a two inning span for the mercy rule shortened win.

The Vikings struck first again in game two, plating a pair of runs on a Chaney Tambling home run shot. The Cardinals responded in the top of the third with a four-run outburst. Laura Whitfield sparked the rally, belting a two-run home run over the center field fence to tie the game. Justine Walker scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball before a Mangia triple brought in Alyssa Rabulinski.

North Central continued to pile on the runs in the fourth inning, scoring eight runs to balloon its lead to 12-2. Erin Drennan forced an error on a rundown at home, scoring in the process while Colleen Drennan also scored on the play. Justine Walker belted an RBI single before Mangia brought in three, including herself, on a single and a fielding error. Erin Drennan doubled to right field, brining in a pair of runs to conclude the Cardinals' scoring.

Krista Watson hit a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the fourth but Augie was unable to generate any more offense as the Cardinals cruised to the series sweep.

Mangia finished a perfect four-for-four at the plate while four other Cardinals collected multiple hits in the game.

Brianna Nelson (11-4) tossed all five innings to earn the win while Ashley Yaros (8-5) suffered the loss, tossing just 2 2/3 innings.

The Cardinals close out their conference slate on Sunday, traveling to Decatur, Ill. to take on CCIW-leader Millikin University in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.