FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kim Ippolito, Graduate Assistant to Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. (April 22, 2014) – The North Central College softball team had a slow start to their College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) double header against the North Park University Vikings on Tuesday. The Cardinals fell in the first game 3-2, but came back to win the second 10-8.

North Central (28-6, CCIW 9-3) couldn't get the bats moving for the majority of game one. Starter Andrea Starr gave up nine hits and three runs, striking out five.

At the bottom of the second, North Park (15-13, CCIW 3-3) put the first pair of runs on the board with two singles and a passed ball that advanced the runners.

The Cardinals rallied in the top of the sixth to tie up the game. Kiersten Tinkoff hit a double to center field to start the inning. Starr then smacked one into left field for a two-run homer, her first of the season.

But the Vikings responded quickly as they captured their own home run, pushing them ahead 3-2 and winning the game.

In game two, the bats were more alive for both teams. North Central made their mark right away in the first inning with four singles that led in two runs. Amanda Walker and Carly Trenhaile collected RBI.

North Park made them work hard as they put four runs on the board in the next inning off of three singles and one triple, until pitcher Bri Kiel ended the inning with a strikeout.

In the third inning, the Cardinals went on a hitting spree as they collected five runs. Trenhaile kicked off the inning with a triple to right field followed by a single from Starr that scored her in. Bri Kiel took her turn and hit a single to center field along with Taylor Ryan to load the bases. Cecie Portillo was hit by a pitch to bring in one run as Tinkoff hit a hard triple to right field for three RBI and making it 8-6.

North Central was able to hold down North Park for the remainder of the game as Starr closed the game with a quick seventh inning as the Cardinals won with a final 10-8.

This was the teams second to last conference matchup as they compete against Illinois Wesleyan University for the number one spot in the CCIW. North Central will go against Augustana College on Saturday, April 26 for their last regular season conference game.

The next double header for the Cardinals is on Wednesday at Aurora University with game time scheduled for 3 p.m.