Contact: Ashleigh Jones, Sports Information Graduate Assistant
Game one Box Score
Game two Box Score
WAUKESHA, Wis. (April 24, 2018)- The North Central College softball team traveled to Waukesha, Wisconsin to face its sixth College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) opponent, splitting its doubleheader against Carroll University, falling 2-1 in game one and surging past the Pioneers to win 6-4 in game two.
The Cardinals clinched an early lead with the help of Taylor Clugston's intuitive base running and an error committed by the Pioneers third baseman.
With a 1-0 lead, North Central would hold tight to their lead all the way up to the bottom of the fifth. After giving up five hits in three innings and one run,
Sarah Esposito was relieved by Samantha Gadomski in the circle.
Gadomski would stop Carroll in its tracks ending any chance of a rally to commence. Tied 1-1 the Cardinals attempts to push ahead were not enough.
Only being able to record two more hits and leaving a total of three on base after two innings, North Central did its best to extend this game to get another chance at bat.
Despite the Cardinals' efforts, however, the Pioneers were able to load the bases and subsequently score off a single, giving them a 2-1 win in game one.
In game two of the series, North Central slightly tweaked the batting lineup and ultimately found its swing again.
Following a wild pitch, Jenna Trojniar found herself in scoring position as teammate Samantha Phelps came up to bat. North Central would then pull ahead off a groundout by Phelps, allowing Trojniar to dash home in a heads-up play, giving the Cardinals a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
Though the Pioneers would answer with a run of their own in the top of the second, North Central would silence Carroll quickly with an onslaught of hits. Recording five runs off of six hits putting the Cardinals up 6-1.
The Pioneers would muster up three more runs between the third and fifth innings bringing them within two of the Cardinals, but would not be enough to sweep the series.
After pitching just over five innings and keeping Carroll to four runs, Jennifer Yager was relieved by Jessica Weaver who helped close out the game allowing only three hits and leaving a total of four Pioneers on base between two innings pitched, solidifying the 6-4 win over the Pioneers.
The Cardinals (24-6, 8-4 CCIW) are back on the road to face its second to last CCIW opponent of the regular season, North Park, on Thursday, April 26. Game time is set for 3 PM and 5 PM.
