Contact: Adam Poklop, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

DECATUR, Ill. (Apr. 20, 2019) - The North Central College softball team had a tough go at Millikin University, unable to get their baserunners across the plate in game one as they fell 2-0, before suffering a 10-2 derailment in the nightcap at Workman Family Softball Field. 

Although North Central outhit Millikin 6-4, they had nothing to show it as they were blanked for the second time this season while stranding a costly seven runners on base.

In the second inning the Cardinals found back-to-back singles from Emily Miller and Molly Cann, respectively, but couldn't get either across the plate.

Game one's scoring was limited to the fourth inning, with Millikin responsible for both the runs.  Although Breanna Adams struck out the leadoff hitter, an errant throw allowed her to reach on a drop third strike. That would come back to haunt the Cardinals, as a sacrifice fly allowed her to run. The Big Blue added one more run when Alyssa White knocked an RBI-triple.

North Central found a little life in the seventh when Lisa Harrington drew a two-out walk and Taylor Clugston singled, putting the tying run on first base. But their rally ended when Miller singled and Gianna Corban was thrown out at the plate for the final out.

In the circle for the Cardinals, Adams fell to 8-4 with the loss. The righthander recorded two strikeouts and neither of Millikin's runs were earned.

Miller (two-for-three) and Molly Cann (two-for-three with a double) led North Central's offense as the only hitters with multiple hits.

In the second game, the Cardinals took a beating early, from which they couldn't recover. The Big Blue batted around in a marathon first inning, tallying five hits. By the time the dust settled, North Central trailed 6-0.

Cann put the Cardinals on the board in the third inning with an RBI-single to left field that brought Miller across the plate, making it 7-1.  But Millikin's offense was unrelenting, scoring three runs over the fourth and fifth innings to take a commanding 10-1 lead.

North Central got their other run from Cann, thanks to an error by the Millikin Centerfielder. Although the Cardinals had the bases loaded, they couldn't get any more runners across the place to thwart the mercy rule.

Corban took the loss, lasting just 3.2 innings while surrendering 7 earned runs. Aly Armstrong earned the win for Millikin, striking out four batters in 4 innings while walking two.

North Central faces their toughest opponent on their schedule Tuesday, Apr. 23, when they travel to Bloomington, Illinois for a doubleheader against the sixth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University. Game one against the Titans is set for 3 p.m.