Contact: Ashleigh Jones, Sports Information Graduate Assistant
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
March 27, 2018- A brisk wind blew through the crowd as the North Central College softball team took to the field at Shanower Family Field for their home opener against the Franklin College Grizzlies. With the wind at their back, the Cardinals fell 8-5 late in the first game against the Grizzlies and then rallied to win 2-1 to close out the series.
In game one of the doubleheader North Central and Franklin traded innings. Getting on the board first the Cardinals held a 1-0 lead through two innings with an earned run by Emily Miller off a sacrificial bunt by Taylor Clugston.
North Central kept the Grizzlies at bay, holding them to just one earned run in the third off a well-placed bunt by Franklin followed by a double by pinch hitter Alexis Traver, tying the game 1-1 at the top of the third.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Lisa Harrington was walked and quickly advanced to second with another sacrificial bunt, this time by Anna Seffernick.
Harrington would then advance yet again to third after a wild pitch, setting North Central up for a much-needed earned run. With a runner on third and Miller at-bat, Franklin broke under the pressure of the Cardinals leading slugger and walked Miller.
Jenna Trojniar came up to bat ready to make contact and singled right up the middle past the Grizzlies shortstop allowing Miller to advance to second and Harrington to score bringing the score 2-1.
Looking for a little cushion to their lead the Cardinals, Clugston came up to bat and did just that, homering herself, Trojniar and Miller in for three more runs.
Despite having the 5-1 lead in the fifth, it was short-lived, for North Central would give up six runs before Sarah Esposito was put in to relieve Jessica Weaver. Unfortunately, that surge of hitting by Franklin was too much for the Cardinals.
Unable to answer with runs of their own and giving up its final run of the game after a wild throw by catcher Jamie Smith, North Central headed back to the dugout losing 8-5.
Game two of the doubleheader was played entirely different by both the Cardinals and the Grizzlies, both at bat and on the field.
At the top of the first pitcher, Jennifer Yager was still finding her cadence, giving up a base hit and a double that would earn a run for Franklin.
Fortunately, the Cardinals combination of strong pitching and defensive stops held the Grizzlies to just one run, but offensively North Central was being silenced in the same way.
By the top of the fifth, Franklin was inching closer and closer to home, but Yager was able to stay calm and close out the inning with poise.
With energy surging through the Cardinal dugout, Rachele Belletini came up to bat. Knowing the importance of this inning Belletini was patient watching every pitch, which paid off and ultimately led to her being walked.
Esposito then helped Belletini advance to second with a well-timed bunt. Alexandra Martin would then take Esposito's spot as the designated runner at first and would later advance to second and Belletini to third after a grounded out by Samantha Gadomski.
Despite tallying its second out at bat, North Central stayed calm and trusted the line-up. After Miller was walked, Trojniar stepped up to bat and singled to center field, bringing in Martin and Belletini to score.
Up 2-1, the Cardinals remained determined to put the second game away. After two groundouts to Yager and one to Clugston North Central had just an inning between them and a win.
The top of the seventh Franklin pulled out all the stops, swapping hitters, and runners to advance all the way to third base. Not willing to give up this second game, Yager finished the game with a fantastic pitch up the middle stunning the Grizzlies to end the game 2-1.
North Central returns to Shanower Family Field to play the Dominican University Stars, on March 29, at 3 and 5 PM.
