Softball team
Steve Woltmann

Softball

Softball CCIW Tournament Preview

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

CCIW Tournament
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April 29, 2015 – The North Central College softball team will be implementing a lot of the same techniques they've been using all season as they travel to Bloomington, Ill. on Thursday to battle Wheaton College in the 2015 College Conference of Illinois & Wiscosnin (CCIW) Tournament. Augustana College will take on Illinois Wesleyan University in game two of the double elimination tournament.

Defending CCIW champions, Illinois Wesleyan, will be hosting this year's event. This is North Central's third straight year qualifying for the CCIW Tournment, last winning the championship in 2011. 

Over the course of the regular season, the Cardinals (31-5, 11-3 CCIW) have maintained a high batting average with multiple players on the team hitting over .400.

"We have a strong offensive showing," said head coach Jim Kulawiak. "We need to keep that going."

Kiersten Tinkoff heads North Central's batting average at .477 and leads the team in hits (62) and RBI (47). Carly Trenhaile is right behind her batting .415 with an astounding 49 hits including nine doubles and three triples for her 36 RBI. Amanda Walker leads the team in doubles (10) this season while batting .406 with 43 hits and one home run for 36 RBI. Corrine Rowe guides the Cardinals in home runs, tallying up six so far this season while collecting 41 RBI.

On defense, the Cardinals have been inconsistent lately, shutting out some teams, while struggling on the field with others.

"We are going to keep our defense the same," said Kulawiak. "There are some adjustments that need to be made, but overall we are going to keep it how it is."

Pitcher Andrea Starr has been the go-to starter for North Central, capturing a 19-3 overall record and holding a 1.39 ERA to close out the regular season.

"Starr will have to guide us and carry the burden this weekend," said Kulawiak. "Her performance this season shows us she has the stamina to do it."

North Central took on Wheaton (23-14, 11-3 CCIW) earlier this season in a doubleheader, grabbing the 12-3 victory in game one, but fell 9-0 in the second game.

"We've split games with all these team's in the tournament," said Kulawiak. "It's important to keep what's working the same in order to move on."

North Central's game one against Wheaton on Thursday kicks of at 12 p.m. The loser of that game will play the loser of game two at 4 p.m. The winner of that game will play the winner of game two at 6 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Andrea Starr

#15 Andrea Starr

P
5' 6"
Junior
R/R
Kiersten Tinkoff

#13 Kiersten Tinkoff

1B
5' 10"
Senior
L/L
Carly Trenhaile

#7 Carly Trenhaile

OF
5' 4"
Senior
R/R
Amanda Walker

#12 Amanda Walker

OF
5' 11"
Junior
R/R
Corrine Rowe

#17 Corrine Rowe

IF
5' 6"
Freshman
R/R

Players Mentioned

Andrea Starr

#15 Andrea Starr

5' 6"
Junior
R/R
P
Kiersten Tinkoff

#13 Kiersten Tinkoff

5' 10"
Senior
L/L
1B
Carly Trenhaile

#7 Carly Trenhaile

5' 4"
Senior
R/R
OF
Amanda Walker

#12 Amanda Walker

5' 11"
Junior
R/R
OF
Corrine Rowe

#17 Corrine Rowe

5' 6"
Freshman
R/R
IF