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Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. (May 1, 2012)-- Eleven innings were necessary for a victor to emerge on Tuesday at Stagg Field as the North Central College softball team concluded its 2012 campaign by suffering a 2-1 setback to the University of Chicago.

The host Maroons' Julia Schneider provided the decisive score in the bottom of the 11th inning, belting a lead-off home run for the 2-1 win.

Chicago (24-9) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, pushing across an unearned run. Kaitlyn Carpenter led off the frame by safely reaching base on a Cardinal error before scoring on a Liz Payonk RBI fielder's choice.

The Cardinals (21-18) evened the score in the top of the fourth, plating an unearned run of their own. Mary Caron reached base on an error to start the inning before scoring on a Colleen Drennan base hit. North Central threatened to score again with a runner on third before the Maroons escaped without any further damage, tossing out the runner while attempting to steal home.

The Cardinals threatened again in the 10th with Kayla Antle belting a double and advancing to third on a Taylor Ryan single. Chicago clamped down on defense, making a play at home and inducing a groundout to escape the inning.

North Central stranded nine baserunners over the course of the contest while the Maroons left seven runners on base.

Antle, Ryan and Vlasta Mangia powered the Cardinals offense, each tallying a pair of hits.

Mangia (16-14) suffered the loss, tossing all 10 innings, yielding six hits and striking out four. Kim Cygan (14-4) earned the win, tossing the game's final six innings and striking out five in relief of Sarah Neuhaus.

Game two of the scheduled doubleheader was canceled.