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

Game one box score
Game two box score

April 1, 2017 – Beginning College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) competition against the newest member of the conference, the North Central College softball team split with the visiting Pioneers of Carroll University, falling in a tight 1-0 loss before taking game two 3-2 Saturday afternoon at Shanower Family Field.

Game one would feature a pitcher's duel featuring Carroll's Hannah Miller and the Cardinals Jennifer Yager, with Miller earning the close 1-0 victory. The Pioneers used a three hit second inning to take a one run lead, as Kelly Strasser started the inning with a leadoff single and came around to score three batters later on a sacrifice fly to center field from Lexy Kemnitzer. The Cardinals would threaten in the bottom half, putting two runners in scoring position but unable to push any across. Yager and Miller would trade zeros the rest of the way, with the Cardinals threatening again in the sixth.

A leadoff walk issued to Brooke Kehoe followed by a Samantha Phelps single gave the Cardinals hope. After a sacrifice bunt to move both runners over, the Cardinals saw two opportunities to tie the game but a strike out and a foul out ended North Central's chances. The Cardinals went quietly in the seventh, giving the Pioneers their first CCIW victory.

Both Carroll and North Central committed zero errors, with Carroll owning a slight 7-6 hit advantage.

Yager (2-3) allowed one run in the complete game, striking out three and walking none. She would be outdone by her counterpart Miller in her four strikeout, two walk performance while allowing no runs.

Continuing the pitching duel into the second game, North Central would be the first to take the lead courtesy of a Jenna Trojniar RBI double to the left field fence, scoring Molly Price. The Pioneers fought back in the fifth as Annika Graves lead off with a single and was forced over thanks to a sacrifice bunt. Carroll's offensive leader Veronica Rodriguez then traded places with Graves, doubling to right field. The Pioneers tried to take the lead the same inning but the Cardinals defense shut down the potential threat, keeping the score knotted at one.

North Central broke the tie in the seventh as Rachele Belletini led off with a triple over the center fielder's head to give the Cardinals some life. Two batters later, Esposito grounded a ball to third but a high throw from Carroll's third baseman allowed Belletini to slide in under the tag. Extending their lead later in the inning was Taylor Clugston, using a deep fly out to center field to bring in Jenna Amazzalorso.

Carroll did not go quietly as they were able to score one run in the seventh, but the Cardinals defense would again buckle down to secure the win and earn their first conference victory of the season.

Despite allowing nine hits, Esposito (4-1) allowed only two runs while walking two and striking out four. Both teams committed one error while the Cardinals made the most out of their five hits on the day.

The Cardinals (10-7, 1-1) return to action Tuesday, traveling to Bloomington to take on the Illinois Wesleyan University Titans. Game time is scheduled for 4 and 6 pm.