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

Game one box score
Game two box score

CHICAGO, Ill. (Apr. 26, 2016) – After suffering a heartbreaking 6-5 game one loss, the North Central College softball team was able to regain their composure and deliver a 9-1 onslaught in game two Tuesday afternoon against North Park University to remain in contention for a College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) tournament berth.

In the first game, the Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the third thanks to a Rachele Belletini double to score Taylor Clugston. North Park knotted the score in the fourth after taking advantage of a North Central error. The Cardinals scored four in the sixth as Jenna Trojniar scored on a fielder's choice bunt followed by a bases loaded walk. Clugston then delivered a two-RBI single to give the visitors a four run lead with only six more outs to record.

North Park did not go silently as they used three hits and a North Central error to battle back. A five-run seventh for the Vikings capped with a bases loaded walk-off double by the Vikings allowed them to steal one from the Cardinals and leave North Central defeated and stunned.

Starr (9-10) would unfortunately take the loss for game one, despite giving up only two earned runs on five hits yet tallying four base on balls. With her six strikeouts on the day however, Starr moves into third all-time in strikeouts (293), 25 behind second.

North Central (16-14, 6-4 CCIW) came out strong in game two, launching three home runs in a five run first inning. Clugston started the inning with a lead-off bomb to center field. Belletini then walked and took second on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Andrea Starr recorded her fifth homer of the year, a two-run shot over the right field fence. After a Jenna Amazzalorso walk, Amanda Walker matched Starr with a two-run blast of her own, also her fifth of the season. In the second, Belletini drove in Clugston from first with a RBI single combined with an error by the North Park left fielder. Amazzalorso then singled up the middle to score Belletini later in the inning, giving the Cardinals a 7-0 lead after two innings.

North Park (9-26, 6-8 CCIW) got on the board in the fifth, scoring one run after a lead-off triple followed by a RBI fielder's choice. The Cardinals would threaten to extend their lead in the bottom half of the inning with bases loaded with two out but would end the inning empty handed. North Central put the game away in the sixth as Clugston doubled to start the inning while Belletini tripled right after. Jenna Trojniar followed with a single up the middle, allowing Belletini to scamper home and give the Cardinals a run-ruling 9-1 victory.

Jennifer Yager (2-2) would throw an excellent six innings for North Central, allowing one run on eight hits while striking out three and walking only one.

Clugston finished the day 5-for-8 from the plate, recording three RBI's while Belletini also recorded three RBI's on the day. Amazzalorso, Starr and Walker each recorded two RBI's.

Amanda Walker now claims sole possession of the all-time record in RBI's. Her two RBI's is game two allowed her to record 140 total in her career, breaking the previous record of 138 set by Amanda Talley in 1998-2001. She leads the team with 25 on the season.

North Central's final home game is Thursday, Apr. 26 hosting Illinois Wesleyan University. Game one is scheduled to begin at 3 pm.