Contact: Ashleigh Jones, Sports Information Graduate Assistant
Game 1 Box score
Game 2 Box score
NOTRE DAME, IND. (March 24, 2018)- The North Central College softball team split its first doubleheader of the season against St. Mary's College, with an incredible 8-7 come-back victory, only to be shutout 6-0 in the second game.
Establishing themselves early, leadoff hitter Emily Miller opened the top of the first with a triple down the left-field line. After a quick out after sacrificial bunt by Jenna Trojniar, Taylor Clugston hit a flyball out to St. Mary's shortstop, allowing Miller to score the first run of the game.
St. Mary's quickly ended the first and answered with three runs of their own, leading the Cardinals 3-1 into the second inning.
The Cardinals were then shut down by the fundamental play of St. Mary's between the second and fourth innings, tallying just three hits to St. Mary's seven.
Desperate to get back in the game, North Central's hitting put pressure on St. Mary's with three earned runs, thanks to a double by Miller, allowing Anna Seffernick to easily score and setting the Cardinals up for two more runs by Miller and Trojniar.
Despite their efforts, North Central just could not hold St. Mary's off and found themselves down 7-4 entering the finals stretch of the first game.
Not willing to go down without a fight the Cardinals came to the plate swinging getting two batters on base quickly. Miller and Seffernick would then score thanks to a timely single to center field by Clugston closing the gap to just one run with only one out in the seventh.
Samantha Phelps crushed a ball to center field, only to have to turn back to the dugout. With two outs and a runner on first, Reagan Raymer singled again to center field and aggressively ran to second on a throw putting the Cardinals in position to not only tie the game but potentially take the lead.
Rachele Belletini aware of the pressure at-bat, singled once more allowing Clugston and Raymer to advance and score giving the Cardinals an 8-7 lead; which would ultimately be all they needed to close out a hard-fought game one.
In the second game of the doubleheader against St. Mary's North Central fell hard, losing 6-0 in seven innings.
Unable to get their bats behind them the Cardinals would tally just four hits to St. Mary's eleven.
Marking her first loss of the season Sarah Esposito, walked just one batter, but gave up four of the six runs before being relieved by Jessica Weaver.
Despite their tenacity to get back in the game, North Central could not find a way on base, grounding out fourteen times throughout the game and finding themselves at-bat only 22 times.
The Cardinals (9-1) come back home to Shanower Family Field on Tuesday, March 27, to face Dominican University (Ill.). Game time is set for 3 PM and 5 PM.
