FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Louis Groce, Graduate Assistant to the Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

KENOSHA, Wis. (May 3, 2013) – The North Central College softball team made an early exit from the 2013 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Tournament after suffering a 3-2 defeat against top-seed Carthage College and falling 5-2 to Illinois Wesleyan University Friday. 

North Central (32-10) spotted the Lady Reds an early 3-0 lead, but the Cardinals hung tough, and closed the gap to 3-2 in the fifth inning on a two-run bomb to left field by Kayla Antle.  Unfortunately, that would be all the visitors could manage off of CCIW Pitcher of the Year Krystina Leazer. 

The Cardinals threatened to tie the score in the seventh and had runners at first and second with two down after base hits by Cecie Portillo and Olivia Goethals, but Leazer got Antle to groundout to end the game. 

Vlasta Mangia (22-6) was saddled with the loss despite giving up just one earned run and gave up just five hits in six innings pitched. 

Against Illinois Wesleyan, the Cardinal defense was leaky once again and committed four errors, which allowed the second-seeded Titans to score all five of its runs unearned off of Mangia.    

Down 2-0, the North Central lineup knotted the score on Jordyn Beck's two-RBI double to right center field that scored Carly Trenhaile and Taylor Ryan. But, the Titans relieved starter Molly McCready with Alyssa Vorel after the second, and Vorel held the Cardinals to just two hits in the final five innings. 

Illinois Wesleyan took the lead for good in the top of the third with two runs, and added another in the fifth to provide Vorel with more than enough run support. 

North Central is now hoping for an at-large bid to the NCAA Regionals which will take place from May 9-13.  The qualifiers and brackets for the 2013 Division III NCAA Softball Tournament will be unveiled on Monday at 9:00 a.m.