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

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

April 5, 2014 – The North Central College softball team swept the Millikin University Big Blue on Saturday in their second conference double header of the season winning 9-4 and 10-4.

The Cardinals (17-3, CCIW 3-1) had to dig themselves out of a hole in the first game of the day. Big Blue (12-9, CCIW 0-2) came out strong in the first inning with a home run to left center field that scored two. In the second, Millikin kept it going with a double and single that pushed them ahead 4-0.

It wasn't until the fourth inning when North Central realized they had some work to do. Kiersten Tinkoff led the inning with a home run to right field to get it going.  Following her lead, Amanda Walker added her own home run to the board as she smashed one over the fence in left field.

That was the motivation the Cardinals needed as they clocked in three more runs in the fifth inning with a double from Kayla Antle for two RBI and a single from Tinkoff for the third run giving the team their first lead of the game, 5-4.

This sixth inning was a lot similar with a double to left center from Cecie Portillo, scoring in Taylor Ryan. Antle tossed in her own double that led in Portillo and Jordan Johnson. Tinkoff then singled to the right side, bringing Antle in and giving North Central the final score, 9-4.

In the second game, North Central started the first inning not letting up from their energy before with a triple down the right field line from Carly Trenhaile and pushed the team to an immediate 4-0 lead. Pitcher Andrea Starr held Big Blue the majority of the game, only allowing a few runs in the first half of the game. 

However, that wouldn't be enough for Millikin as North Central took full advantage of their pitching errors with Walker and Vlasta Mangia scoring on wild pitches. Brooke Kehoe then cracked in a three-run homer in the top off the fifth to give the Cardinals an even bigger lead.

Walker added her final RBI of the day with a double in far center field, scoring in Antle and giving the Cardinals the 10-4 win.

North Central plays again on Tuesday at home against Elmhurst College at Shanower Family Field. Game time for the double header is set to begin at 3 p.m.