Contact:
Adam Poklop, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
APR. 25, 2019 – Rebounding from a sluggish game one performance, the North Central College softball team battled their way to a 6-5 victory over North Park University in a thrilling back-and-forth nightcap at Shanower Family Field Thursday.
In the opener,
Breanna Adams hit the very first batter she faced, who would score off a single to give the Vikings an early lead that they would never relinquish.
The Cardinals got a good opportunity in the third, when
Gianna Corban drew a walk to lead off the inning and
Emily Miller followed by reaching on an infield hit. A groundout put both in scoring position with one out; however, North Park escaped by turning a line drive into a double play.
The Vikings extended their lead with RBI-singles in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, while North Central struggled to get anything going in a game that saw them outhit 12-3.
Miller gave the Cardinals a much-needed baserunner in the sixth inning, reaching on an error by the shortstop. She took second on a wild pitch and third off a groundout but was left stranded 60 feet from home.
Although
Taylor Clugston's two-out single gave the Cardinals a baserunner in the seventh, but that was all the offense they could muster.
Adams (8-6) absorbed the lost for the Cardinals, allowing four runs—all earned—while recording one walk and one strikeout.
In the circle for the Vikings, Hayley Jackson improved to 6-9 on the season, striking out two in her shutout victory.
Although North Central was outhit in the second game as well, 13-8, their offense came to life.
Jaime Smith laid down a bunt to kick off the second inning, scoring when
Rachel Kolling hit a fly ball to left center that dropped due to an miscommunication between the left fielder and center fielder. But they weren't done yet, as Miller singled through the right side, bringing in another run to lead 2-0.
Clugston—who ranks second for career stolen bases—put her base running on display in the fourth inning, beating out the throw on a bunt, then advancing to second on a groundout. With two outs, the senior stole third and when the shortstop couldn't field the throw cleanly, she was able to score.
After surrendering three unanswered runs, North Park posted a three-run fifth inning to knot the game, tallying four hits including two RBI-doubles.
But North Central returned the favor in the seventh inning.
Lisa Harrington and Miller hit back-to-back singles to start the inning and
Molly Cann followed by reaching on an error, loading the bases. With two outs, Smith singled up the middle to bring in two runs when the center fielder couldn't play it cleanly.
Samantha Gadomski gave the Cardinals their sixth and final run by hitting a single to right field, allowing Smith to score.
The Vikings didn't go down without a fight, as Jackson smashed a two-run homer to bring her team within a run. North park then hit three consecutive singles to load the bases with no outs, but Corban struck out two and forced the final Viking batter to groundout, narrowly escaping a disaster.
Corban (11-6) tossed 6.2 innings on her way to victory, allowing five runs—all earned—and recording six strikeouts.
Morgan Fitchman moved to 4-6 for the season with the loss, although she allowed just one earned run due to the four errors her defense made. For the Cardinals, the victory marked the first time in 13 games they finished without committing an error.
Three Cardinals tallied multiple hits in the win, with Smith going two-for-four with a pair of RBIs and one run, while Gadomski was two-for-three with an RBI and Miller finished two-for-four with a run and an RBI.
Jackson led North Park at the plate, batting a perfect four-for-four with one run and 3 RBIs.
North Central closes the regular season on Sunday, Apr. 25 with a doubleheader against Augustana College at Shanower Family Field.
