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Western Connecticut Box Score
Saint Joseph Box Score
NAPLES, FLA. (Mar. 14, 2019) – Opening the season at the Gene Cusic Classic in Florida, the North Central College softball team cruised to a pair of victories Thursday, first dispatching of the Western Connecticut Colonials 7-1 before shutting out the University of Saint Joseph Blue Jays 3-0.
The Cardinals wasted no time getting on the board against Western Connecticut (6-3), putting up a pair of runs in the first inning. After Tylor Clugston reached on a single, Belletini doubled to bring her home for the first run of the season. Meanwhile, Jamie Smith's two-out RBI single pushed the lead to 2-0.
After Breanna Adams retired the side in order, North Central added another run in the second inning. Molly Cann connected for a leadoff hit, and was able to score off Jordan Raszeja's single. A Colonial error followed by catcher's interference loaded the bases with no outs, but all were left stranded.
Western Connecticut scored their only run of the game in the top of the second, when Jordan Fitzsimons reached on an error, eventually scoring on Erica Bowler's triple.
North Central capitalized on lackluster fielding by Western Connecticut to pad their lead in the fourth. With two outs, Emily Miller hit a single and reached second base off an error. The Colonials committed errors on each of the following batters, allowing Miller and Clugston to score. The fifth inning brought more of the same for the Cardinals, who added two more runs with singles from Adams, Smith, Cann and Raszeja.
Pitching a complete game for the Cardinals, Adams struck out two while surrendering one earned run on three hits. Four North Central batters totaled multiple hits, as the team combined for 11.
After a high-powered offensive showing in the first game, North Central's showcased their stellar defense and pitching against Saint Joseph (4-5). Gianna Corbin made her first collegiate start one to remember, striking out eight batters in seven innings and surrendering just two hits and two walks.
As they did in the first game, the Cardinals jumped out to an early lead. After hitting a one-out single, Clugston stole a pair of bags, before scoring on Adams' base hit to put North Central up 1-0. Adams came up big again in the third inning, hitting a double and eventually scoring thanks to a base hit by Cann. The Cardinals scored their final run in the sixth inning, with Miller driving in Cann.
Miller, Adams and Cann each had two hits in the game, as the team amassed nine hits. All three of the team's runs were earned.
North Central (2-0) continues tournament play tomorrow, when they take on the University of Saint Joseph Blue Jays (4-5) at 9 a.m. ET, followed by the Nazareth College Golden Flyers at 1 p.m. ET. Live stats for the Nazareth matchup can be found HERE.
