Contact: Ashleigh Jones, Sports Information Graduate Assistant
Game one Box Score
Game two Box Score
NAPLES, Fla. (March 18, 2018)- The North Central College softball team dominated in the 2018 Gene Cusic Classic, finishing with an undefeated record of 8-0. With a commanding 11-3 win over Knox College and a tightly contested 6-5 win over the University of Wisconsin-Superior, the Cardinals are the third team in program history to leave their spring break trip undefeated.
Similar to earlier matchups this weekend North Central came ready to win. After back-to-back walks and a botched passed ball, the Cardinals found itself in its sweet spot, with Emily Miller and Jenna Trojniar in scoring position as Taylor Clugston came up to bat.
With a sacrifice bunt, Clugston intended to load the bases; however, Miller took full advantage of the situation and scored the Cardinals first run of the game. From that point on the Cardinals practically walked home with the game, for the Prairie Fire's starting pitcher walked two more players and allowed six more runs before getting pulled.
By the end of the first inning, North Central was up 7-0 and continued their dominance on the field. With the efficiency of pitcher Samantha Gadomski only a total of eight batters between the second and third inning came to bat; and as a team, just five errors were committed in comparison to Knox's nine errors.
North Central closed out the game with four runs and giving them a substantial 11-1 lead at the end of the bottom of the fourth. However, despite their significant lead, the Cardinals gave up two runs off a single to center field before ending the game at five innings with a groundout by third basemen Anna Seffernick.
The second game against the University of Wisconsin-Superior was a hard-fought win to close the Classic. With Jessica Weaver facing only four batters in the top of the first the Cardinals answered with impressive hitting and base running.
Much like the first game, North Central found themselves with runners at the ready to score. With a single by Samantha Phelps and runners already advance to second and third Miller scored the Cardinals first run of the game. Trojniar quickly followed with a run of her own just before the end of the first inning.
North Central would tack on one more run after three innings, holding a small 3-1 lead over the Yellowjackets. In the fourth, both teams went cold with three quick outs on both ends of the inning.
Still adjusting from the lack of hitting success, the Cardinals were suddenly down 4-3, after the Yellowjackets found their swing with three players hitting a double and a walk. And with a quick read and pitching change, Jennifer Yager relieved Weaver to close the game.
When it was North Centrals' turn at bat, they once again couldn't find the pockets and looked square in the eyes of potential defeat. Fortunately, the Cardinals regained their composure and after silencing the Yellowjackets in the sixth came out with bats ready.
In the bottom of the sixth North Central would earn three runs thanks to the aggressive base running of Rachele Belletini, setting the Cardinals up for a rally of scoring that would ultimately be enough to beat the University of Wisconsin-Superior by one.
North Central returns to the Midwest and play again on Saturday, March 24 at 1 PM in a doubleheader against Saint Mary's College in Norte Dame, Ind.
