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Box Score

PELLA, Iowa (May 9, 2014) – Starting with a lead off hit, the North Central College softball team never slowed their momentum as they shutout the Central College Dutch, 5-0, in their first game of the NCAA Division III Softball Regionals on Friday in Pella, Iowa.

""I was very pleased with it," said head coach Jim Kulawiak. "I thought they played very well. I thought they were very solid from the first out all the way to the last out."
 
Kayla Antle kicked it off for the Cardinals (30-11) with a bunt for a hit that started the fire for the team. After a sac bunt by Cecie Portillo to advance Antle, Kiersten Tinkoff was intentionally walked. Thanks to two throwing errors by the Dutch (30-11), Antle snuck to home for the first run of the game.

""It is important to try and jump on someone," said Kulawiak. "It's something we've struggled with for three weeks now."
 
The next two innings looked similar for North Central as Portillo singled to right field for an RBI, bringing in Vlasta Mangia who had reached on an error. In the third, Andrea Starr doubled to left field to get things going. Amanda Cooper pinch ran for her as Carly Trenhaile smacked a single to left center to move Cooper to third. It was followed with a good placement by Mangia who grounded out to first, scoring in Cooper to make it 3-0.
 
Pitcher Starr (14-5) got the shutout win as she held the Dutch to only five hits.
 
"I think the defense was a tremendous help to me," said Starr. "Hitting the corners and then trusting the defense to be there for every single play."
 
North Central wasn't done offensively as Kiersten Tinkoff took her turn for a double to left field to start the fifth. Jordan Johnson pinch ran for her and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Amanda Walker hit a far one to center field for a sac fly that got in Johnson.
 
It was Taylor Ryan who put the last one on the board for the Cardinals as she smoked one over the fence in left field for her first home run of the season.
 
"We always talk about winning the inning and how big of a deal it is to keep the momentum," said Starr. "When you win the inning, everything's just going in your favor. It's so much easier and more relaxing as a pitcher to know that we're just going to keep scoring and it puts your mind at ease."
 
North Central will be put up against the Washington-St. Louis Bears on Saturday at 11 a.m. for their second game.
 
"I know they're a big hitting team," said Starr. "We're going to see how it goes tomorrow—take every team one at a time."
 
The Bears had defeated the No.1 ranked in the tournament, the Luther College Norse, 7-2.  
 
"We have to put a plan together and see what matches up best," said Kulawiak about competing with the Bears.
 
The winners of this game move onto Sunday, while the losers play the winner of the Central vs. Luther game that will take place at 1:30 p.m.