FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
Apr. 19, 2012-- The North Central College softball team was edged 2-1 by Wheaton College in the opener of a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin doubleheader on Thursday at Shanower Field before rebounding for the 3-1 victory in game two to salvage the split.
In the opener, the visiting Thunder (21-13, 3-5 CCIW) plated a pair of runs in the second inning in what proved to be enough to earn the victory. Suzanne Teuben led off the inning with a single, later scoring on a fielder's choice while a Jenna Lawrenz groundout plated the frame's second score and what turned out to be the decisive score.
The Cardinals (13-15, 2-8 CCIW) broke up the shutout in the sixth inning with
Taylor Ryan belting a double to right center field to begin the inning. Ryan advanced to third on a
Vlasta Mangia base knock before a
Carly Trenhaile sacrifice fly scored Ryan to cut the deficit to one run. North Central's rally was ultimately cut short after getting the third out called after a runner left third base early.
Mangia (9-11) led the Cardinal offense with a pair of hits while suffering the loss in the circle, yielding two earned runs and striking out five in seven innings of work. Ainsley McCullough (10-5) earned the win, allowing one run and six hits in the complete game effort.
In game two, a three-run outburst in the top of the first proved more than enough for the Cardinals, holding on for the 3-1 victory to earn the doubleheader split.
A Trenhaile single plated
Kayla Antle for the game's opening run after Antle led off the contest with a bunt single. A Beck single the next at bat brought in Ryan before a
Colleen Drennan groundout plated Mangia, giving the hosts the 3-0 edge.
Wheaton broke up the shutout in the bottom of the seventh, capitalizing on a pair of Cardinal errors to plate a run and had the winning run at the plate before Mangia induced a foul out to end the inning and preserve the win.
Jordyn Beck finished with two hits to lead the Cardinal offense while in the circle Mangia earned the win, fanning five batters in the complete game effort. Wheaton's Danielle Schmidt (11-7) absorbed the loss, allowing one earned run and striking out three.
The Cardinals return to the diamond on Sunday, traveling to Waukesha, Wis. for a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Carroll University.
