Contact: Ashleigh Jones, Sports Information Graduate Assistant
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
AURORA, Ill. (April 10, 2018)- The North Central College softball team earned its seventh straight win, after defeating the Aurora University Spartans on Tuesday, April 10 at the Stuart Sports Complex in a 5-2 and 7-1 rout.
Opening the first game up with a double, Emily Miller started the Cardinals' hitting dominance. With just one out at the top of the first, the Cardinals had bases loaded as Anna Seffernick came up to bat.
Seffernick would then single to right field, bringing in teammates Miller and Taylor Clugston home to give North Central an early 2-0 lead.
That 2-0 lead was short-lived, however, after an error led to the Spartans getting into scoring position. After scoring at the bottom of the first and only up 2-1 the Cardinals came back to bat and regained command of the game.
Jamie Smith would leadoff at the top of the second, reaching on an error committed by Aurora University's third baseman.
A sacrifice bunt by Samantha Gadomski would advance Smith to second testing the Spartans' infield.
Aurora held strong against Miller but crumbled quickly after a stand-up double by Jenna Trojniar brought Smith in for her first RBI of the game, resulting in a 3-1 lead.
Both teams would end the third with no runs, hits or errors. Frustrated with the innings results North Central came back to the plate at the top of the fourth determined to put even more distance between themselves and the Spartans.
Despite two quick outs, the Cardinals were back on base after Gadomski singled up the middle. Reaching the top of the order, North Centrals' top batter Miller would tally her second double of the game as well as an RBI with Gadomski's successful play at home.
With a 4-1 lead at the top of the fifth, the Cardinals were ready to put the game away, but the Spartans wouldn't go away without a fight, earning another run to cut the lead back to just two at the bottom of the fifth.
After yet another scoreless inning on both ends, the Cardinals wanted to solidify their lead, and with the help of Miller's second triple of the season, North Central saw its chance to earn another run.
Tronjiar would then single to left field, providing plenty of time for Miller to score and give the Cardinals a commanding 5-2 lead.
Not willing to give up to quickly the Spartans would alter their lineup to put pressure on Sarah Esposito's ability to close. Though Aurora found itself with two players on base, the defensive communication put an end to the Spartans final attempts to tie the game.
Similar to the first game North Central found itself up by two in the top of the first. With Miller on base and two outs in the inning, the Cardinals cleanup batter Samantha Phelps connected with the ball earning her second homerun of the season and two RBI in her first at-bat of game two.
Unfortunately, the Spartans would respond to North Central's runs with a run of their own, yet were held to just one after the bottom of the first.
At the top of the second Aurora gathered three quick outs against the Cardinals, and batted well at the bottom of the second, putting two players on base. Fortunately, North Central would end the Spartans' chances to take the lead with a double play between Clugston, Rachele Belletini, and Phelps.
The game held at 2-1 as the Spartans and Cardinals battled defensively holding their ground as each inning ticked away.
At the top of the sixth Aurora University would meet Phelps at the beginning of the batting lineup. Phelps with a homerun already tagged to her name singled to center field. With Reagan Raymer put in as the designated runner on first, the Cardinals would start a hitting clinic, sparked by a single by Seffernick, leaving the Spartans to fend off North Central at first and second.
Lisa Harrington would then enter the game to pinch hit for teammate Belletini. With no out, Harrington's sacrifice bunt would lead to Raymer and Seffernick advancing to third and second respectively, and ultimately load the bases thanks to an error by the Spartans third basemen.
Smith with just one out while at bat continued the hitting rally earning a ground-rule double, and collecting 2 RBI, bringing the score to 4-1.
Unable to get its footing the Cardinal defense would stifle the Spartans. At the top of the seventh Belletini with runners at first and second earned her third homerun of the season, opening the game wide open, 7-1.
North Central finished the game with fashion, with a runner at third and two outs left Miller would end the game with a diving catch to end the series.
The Cardinals (16-2, 2-0) are back at Shanower Family Field to face their second CCIW opponent of the season Elmhurst College. Game time is set for 3 PM. For audio coverage of the game click HERE.
