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

Box score

RIVER FOREST, Ill. (Apr. 11, 2017) – Resuming their suspended game from almost two weeks ago against Concordia University Chicago holding an 8-4 lead in the bottom of the third, the North Central College softball team was unable to ignite their offense upon resumption of play, falling 11-8 to the Cougars Tuesday afternoon.

The Cardinals initially came out of the gates quick, piling on five runs with three hits and four walks in the first frame. Taylor Clugston started the game with a leadoff walk and stole second, then advancing to third on a throwing error from the Cougars catcher. Anna Seffernick then reached on a bunt, scoring Clugston from third. A second walk of the inning combined with a Sarah Esposito single loaded the bases for North Central. Jenna Amazzalorso then singled to score Seffernick and Rachele Belletini walked to lead 3-0. Two batters later, the fourth walk scored Esposito and Clugston would make the most out of her second plate appearance of the inning with an RBI-single through the right side to cap the Cardinal scoring at 5-0.

The Cougars took one back in the bottom half but the Cardinals continued to pile on, as Belletini launched a three-run jack to center to bring the score 8-1. Concordia cut the deficit to half 8-4 in the second inning as a bases-clearing double would be the last runs of the day as the game would be suspended in the bottom of the third.

The Cougars would resume the game with runners on first and second with no outs and used the break to knot the score at eight, tallying three hits and an error in the third. Concordia then took the lead in the fourth with one run and added two insurance runs in the fifth to hold on for the 11-8 victory.

The Cardinals (12-12) recorded ten hits in the game but only four once play resumed while Concordia finished with 16 hits.

Elizabeth Foxley of Concordia led all hitters with a perfect 3-for-3 performance while Esposito and Amazzalorso both logged two hits in the game, with Belletini finishing with four RBI. Esposito (4-3) received the loss for North Central while Julianne Nation took the win for the Cougars.

North Central returns to conference play on Thursday, April 13 as they travel to Elmhurst College. The Blue Jays are currently 10-12 on the year and 1-3 in conference after splitting with Carthage College while getting swept by Millikin University. Game times are scheduled for 3 and 5 pm. Live stats can be found HERE.