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

Game one box score
Game two box score

KENOSHA, Wis. (Apr. 19, 2016) – Being held to only two hits in game one but bouncing back in game two, the North Central College softball team dropped their first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) contest 5-2 to Carthage College before winning game two by a score of 7-3 on Thursday afternoon.

The Cardinals were only able to score in one inning, scoring two runs in the top of the fourth, a half inning after Carthage took an early 2-0 lead. In the fourth, Jenna Trojniar started the inning with a lead-off single. Back-to-back errors on the next two batters allowed her to score, giving the Cardinals some momentum. Two batters later, Madison O'Donnell reached on a fielder's choice to score one and bring the score to two runs apiece.

With only one hit from both teams in the next two innings, Carthage (13-13, 5-5) finally broke the tie in the bottom half of the sixth as a two-run double followed by an RBI single gave the hosts a 5-2 advantage. A perfect seventh inning by the Lady Reds allowed them to secure the victory and give the Cardinals their first conference loss.

Andrea Starr would unfortunately receive the loss, allowing eight hits and three walks but striking out five. Carthage starter Katie Herron would win the battle by striking out eight and only allowing two hits and no earned runs.
Game two would feature the exact same pitching matchup to start the game except the Cardinals would score four runs on four hits and run Herron out after three innings. North Central would score early and often in the nightcap, putting runs up in all but two innings. The Cardinals (15-11, 5-1) jumped out to an early lead as Sarah Esposito hit a RBI single through the left side to score Starr from second after she led the inning off with a single to right field.

North Central scored three runs the next inning as a hit by pitch and Carthage error put runners on first and third with no outs. Amanda Walker then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Trojniar to score from third and give Walker her 138^th RBI in her career, tying the all-time Cardinal record. North Central wasn't done however as Starr hit her fourth homerun of the year, putting the Cardinals up four.

The next inning, a Samantha Anderson RBI single extended the lead but the Lady Reds would get that run back the next inning. In the fifth, Brooke Kehoe would record her first homer of the year, a two run shot over the left field fence. Carthage would score an unearned run in both the sixth and seventh innings due to three North Central errors but the seven Cardinal runs would prove too much for Carthage to overcome, giving the Cardinals a 7-3 victory.

Andrea Starr (9-7) allowed only one earned run on nine hits while striking out two and walking two. She also finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate while driving in two. Kehoe also recorded two RBI's on the day while going 2-for-3 while Anderson finished 2-for-4 with a RBI.

The Cardinals return to action Thursday, Apr. 21 as they host Wheaton College in a doubleheader with game one starting at 3 pm at Shanower Family Field.