Contact: Ashleigh Jones, Sports Information Graduate Assistant  

Game one Box Score   

Game two Box Score  

April 17, 2018-  Due to unseasonable snowy conditions in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the North Central College softball team hosted Carthage College in the first of four home games this week. In just its third College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin matchup of the season, the Cardinals swept the Lady Reds 5-2 and 2-1, retaining a perfect 6-0 conference record on Tuesday.  

At the start of game one, Carthage squelched North Central's chances of getting an early lead ultimately holding the Cardinals to just seven hits throughout the game.  

Though the Cardinals were shut down at bat in the first three innings and down by one at the top of the fourth, the Lady Reds starting pitcher seemed to lose her grip, resulting in loading the bases for the Cardinals.  

After Taylor Clugston was walked, followed by a single right side drive by Samantha Phelps and another walk was awarded to Rachele Belletini, Carthage's coaching staff looked to stop the impending Cardinal scoring surge.  

With a fresh arm in the circle, North Central remained patient, and their patience reaped not just one run but four, thanks to one more walk and a double by Anna Seffernick advancing three of her teammates home to take a 4-1 lead entering the bottom of the fourth.  

Unable to answer the Cardinals run, Carthage did its best to keep North Central to just four runs, but the Cardinals ability to get someone on base would prove to be too much for the Lady Reds leading to a 5-1 lead entering the bottom of the sixth.  

In the bottom of the sixth Carthage found itself on base and aggressively advanced to third putting pressure on Sarah Esposito. After five and a half innings and two runs allowed Esposito was relieved by Jessica Weaver who would close the game out 5-2.  

Game two of the series was a all about endurance for the Cardinals, going scoreless all the way until the bottom of the fifth, and only earning five hits for the game.  

Those five hits were all North Central needed, thanks to a late walk, that would put Jamie Smith on base, and three timely singles by Jenna Trojniar, Emily Miller, and Phelps, which led to a 2-0 lead.   

With just a pair of runs keeping the Cardinals hopes of an undefeated conference record alive, the Lady Reds would not go away. At the top of the seventh, the leadoff hitter for Carthage homered to left field cutting the lead in half with no outs, stealing Jennifer Yager's second CCIW shutout right from her.  

Unnerved by the scoreboard North Central reconvened and adjusted accordingly, finishing out the game within the top of the seventh and earning their 11th straight win.   

The Cardinals (20-2, 6-0 CCIW) are back at Shanower Family Field to play Wheaton College on Thursday, April 19. Game time is set for 3 PM and 5 PM. For live audio coverage of the game click HERE.