Contact: Ashleigh Jones, Sports Information Graduate Assistant
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
April 7, 2018- After a week of postponed games and abnormally cold weather, at 38 degrees and sunny, the North Central College softball team faced the Millikin Big Blue in their first College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) doubleheader of the season. With home-field advantage and the intensity of CCIW play, the Cardinals beat the Big Blue 5-4 and 5-1, thanks to well-placed hits and aggressive base running.
North Central opened the series a bit slow defensively at the top of the first, allowing Millikin to tally two runs early.
Fortunately, the Cardinals' bats were hot, starting the game with a double to left center by leadoff batter Emily Miller. That double was quickly followed by a single by Jenna Trojniar, which allowed Miller to advance to third with ease.
With a runner at first and another at third North Central caught a break when Millikin's starting pitcher Cathy Lebryk committed a wild pitch, which Trojniar took advantage of and advanced to second.
The Cardinals with two in scoring position and just one out were gifted with yet another wild pitch, which resulted in Miller not only scoring but walking Samantha Phelps as well.
Still, in the first and down 2-1, Anna Seffernick singled to the left field giving Trojniar just enough time to slip past the Big Blue's catcher and tie the game at 2.
Jennifer Yager returned to the circle in the top of the second warmed up, although two hits were recorded in the inning, she closed Millikin's chances of taking back the lead by earning the Cardinals final out with a strikeout.
In the bottom of the second with bases loaded and the pressure on the Big Blue, Clugston was walked advancing Samantha Gadomski to home.
North Central's fielding would hold Millikin at bay up until the top of the fifth, allowing two runs, and giving up the lead 4-3.
Despite a quick sixth inning the Cardinals were determined to take back the game, seeing just four players at bat, and utilizing efficient fielding to keep their deficit within one run.
North Central entered the batter's box ready to swing. Although a quick out placed more pressure on the Cardinals, the top of the batting order came up in the clutch. Tallying a double by Miller, and three singles by Trojniar, Clugston, and Phelps.
Off of Trojniar's single Miller advanced to third, and ultimately scored off of Clugston's single to third, utilizing her speed to tie the game. Still flustered by the run the Big Blue gave up a single by Phelps, which went off the foot of Millikin's shortstop and allowed Trojniar to turn the corner to home, earning the winning run, with a final score of 5-4.
Game two of the doubleheader was scoreless up until the top of the third. Once again, the top of the batting lineup took advantage of Millikin's inconsistent pitching and earned Trojniar her second run of the doubleheader, off of a single to shortstop by Phelps, giving the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
Millikin would answer in the bottom of the fourth, following a combination of miscommunicated throws and well-timed running by the Big Blue.
With the game tied 1-1, North Central in the top of the fifth would put six at-bat recording three runs, off of four hits, taking the lead 4-1.
In the top of the seventh Miller would score yet again from third, while Clugston attempted to steal second, extending their lead 5-1.
The Cardinals would shut down Millikin's offense in the remaining three innings, allowing just three hits and leaving three runners on base. Though the Big Blue did catch a break off an overturned out, North Central knew remained calm and with a groundout to Clugston earned the final out of the series, winning 5-1.
The Cardinals (14-2, 2-0 CCIW) travel to Aurora University on April 10. Game time is set for 3 and 5 PM. For live stats and video click HERE.
