FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tyler Friel, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Mar. 26, 2016) – Returning from their spring trip, the North Central College softball team traveled to St. Mary's College (Ind.) where they split their doubleheader, dropping game one 10-2 before taking the nightcap 8-6.

St. Mary's (9-8) scored early and often in game one, putting up two runs in three straight innings starting in the second, tallying ten hits over the six run span. North Central (7-7) gathered some momentum in the fourth as Rachel Belletini doubled to center and Jenna Amazzalorso scored her with a RBI double.

In the sixth, the Cardinals would be on the receiving end of one of one of the strangest plays possible as Samantha Anderson was up to bat. Anderson hit a deep fly to left and the St. Mary's left fielder could not make a clean catch, having the ball bounce off of her glove and over the fence, resulting in a home run for the Cardinals. Unfortunately, that was the only run North Central was able to score while the Belles put up four runs in the sixth to win by slaughter rule. Andrea Starr (3-4) took the loss throwing 3.2 innings while Jennifer Yager finished the final 1.1 innings.

Things would be much different for North Central in game two, outhitting the Belles 14-8 and putting runs up in four innings. The Cardinals struck in the first as Taylor Clugston led off with a double to left center. CLugston advanced to third on a sacrifice fly and then scored on a wild pitch. Two batters later Amanda Walker recorded her first home run of the season, crushing a ball to deep center. The Cardinals 2-0 lead would not hold for long as the Belles tied the score the next half inning thanks to a hit and a North Central error.

The Cardinals took their lead back in the third, scoring three runs on four hits. Belletini recorded an RBI single and Anderson logged a two-RBI single to bring the score 5-2. The visiting Cardinals added to their lead the next inning, scoring two thanks to an RBI by both Starr and Belletini. Starr scored the final run for the Cardinals in the game, singling up the middle to score Madison O'Donnell. St. Mary's threatened in the sixth as they tallied six hits to score four runs, bringing the score to within two but the Cardinals defense would step up in the final inning, retiring three straight batters to end the game. Sarah Esposito (4-2) earned the win for the game, throwing five innings and giving up six runs in six hits.

North Central returns to action on Thursday, Mar. 31 as they travel to Concordia University Chicago for a doubleheader. Game one is slated for 3 pm in River Forest.