FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Whitworth Box Score

Augsburg Box Score (Updated Box 3/24)

TUCSON, Ariz. (Mar. 21, 2012)-- The North Central College softball team saw its three-game win streak come to a halt on Wednesday afternoon, falling by identical 8-1 scores to Whitworth University (Wash.) and Augsburg College (Minn.) in the team's final games at the Tucson Invitational.

Against Whitworth (9-14), the Pirates grabbed the lead in the top of the second inning with Natalie Evers belting in a pair of runs before a Sacha Clow sacrifice fly plated the frame's third run.

The Pirates upped their advantage to four runs after pushing across a run in the fifth inning before scoring a pair of runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to take an 8-0 lead.

The Cardinals (4-6) broke up the shutout in the bottom of the seventh as Kayla Antle led off the inning by drawing a walk, later scoring on a Mary Caron single to left field.

Katie Crawford (0-3) absorbed the loss, pitching five innings and yielding four earned runs while striking out three. Whitworth's Riley Fritz picked up the win, tossing the final 4 2/3 innings in relief of Taylor Gilbert.

Against Augsburg (4-10), Cardinal errors paved the way for five unearned runs in the 8-1 defeat.

The Cardinals scored first with Taylor Ryan scoring in the opening frame before the Auggies hammered out three hits in the bottom of the second to take a 3-1 lead. Augsburg doubled its advantage in the fourth inning, pouring on three unearned runs including two off a Lindsay Helbach home run before Helbach belted in two more unearned runs in the seventh inning to conclude the scoring.

Antle accounted for two of the Cardinals' four hits in the game, finishing two-for-three at the plate.

Vlasta Mangia (4-3) suffered the loss, pitching four innings and striking out two before giving way to Crawford who tossed the final two innings, allowing just two hits and no earned runs. Augsburg's Kylee Persing earned the victory, pitching four innings and allowing just two hits.

The Cardinals open up their home schedule on Saturday, welcoming Dominican University to Shanower Field for a 12 p.m. doubleheader.