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

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (April 26, 2014)– The North Central College softball team wasn't able to get ahead in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) rankings when they fell to the 20^th ranked Augustana College Vikings in their last CCIW matchup of the regular season on Saturday 4-2 and 4-3.

The 17^th ranked Cardinals (29-9, CCIW 9-5) dropped to third in conference as Illinois Wesleyan becomes the CCIW Champions with Augustana ranked second. Illinois Wesleyan, Augustana, North Central and Carthage College will all be in the CCIW tournament next weekend after placing in the top four.

The Cardinals, however, couldn't find their rhythm in game one when the Vikings (29-9, CCIW 10-4) scored two runs in the first inning and followed it up with another pair in the third.
Starter Vlasta Mangia gave up nine hits and struck out two in her six innings pitched.

Amanda Walker started things up with a smack into left field in the fourth inning for her sixth home run of the season. Mangia tried to rally North Central in the seventh with a double to center.

Jordan Johnson continued the momentum with a single to right, bringing in their second run of the game, but that wasn't enough to tie as the Cardinals fell 4-2.

Game two looked similar as the Vikings snatched a three-run homer in the second inning. North Central's Andrea Starr picked things up for the team with her third home run of the season, hitting a nice shot to center field for two RBI.

Augustana added one more run to the board in the sixth off of two singles and an error. Pitcher Starr held them after that, but it was too late as North Central could only get one more across the plate in the bottom of the seventh. Cecie Portillo scored in Mangia as they both singled, but getting a final of 4-3.

North Central concludes the regular season on Monday at home against Blackburn College. Game time is set for 3 p.m. at Shanower Family Field.