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

Game one box score
Game two box score

FORT MEYERS, FLA. (17 Mar. 2017) – Despite having a defensively efficient game one, the North Central College softball team was defeated 5-4 against Curry College before their offense went cold in an 8-0 loss to Nazareth University in game two Friday morning at Century Link Sports Complex.

The Cardinals and Curry exchanged a run apiece in the first inning thanks to a Rachele Belletini RBI single. Curry was able to take the lead in the top half of the second, scoring three runs on four hits. North Central (1-3) was able to respond in the fifth with three runs of their own as Jenna Trojniar started the scoring with a two-RBI triple to center field only to be driven in a batter later, courtesy of a Belletini sacrifice fly. The tie was broken the next half inning as Curry used three hits in the inning to take a 5-4 lead. The Cardinals scattered three hits across the next two innings but couldn't push another run across and fell 5-4.

Jennifer Yager would receive the loss for North Central, allowing five runs and ten hits in a complete game performance. Trojniar and Belletini paced the Cardinals with two RBI's each.

The Cardinals bats went cold in game two, collecting just four hits while committing three errors in the field. Nazareth put up four runs in the first and never looked back, scoring two more runs in the
fourth and sixth. Taylor Clugston, Molly Price and Jenna Amazzalorso were the only players to record a hit in game two, with Clugston finishing 2-for-3. Jennifer Weaver (1-1) recorded her second complete game in as many days, allowing nine hits and eight runs while striking out five and walking one.

Overall, Clugston finished the day an impressive 5-for-7 with two runs and a successful steal in game one.

The Cardinals are back at it again the same time as the previous two days, facing Marian University at 9 am and Castleton University at 11 am (ET) on Mar. 18.