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

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

Apr. 2, 2019 – After experiencing an uncharacteristically difficult time finding runs in game one, the North Central College softball team avenged their 2-1 loss by earning a 7-2 victory over the University of Chicago Maroons (6-7) to close Tuesday's doubleheader at Shanower Family Field. 

North Central (15-3, 2-0 CCIW) had no shortage of opportunity to score in game one, which saw the Cardinals held to their lowest run total of the season despite outhitting Chicago 10-8, only to leave ten runners stranded on bases.

Both the Maroons' runs came during a two-out rally in the fifth inning. A pair of base-hits and stolen bases placed two runners in scoring position, and both scored off a single to right field. After Chicago retired the side in order in the bottom half of the inning, the Cardinals put themselves on the board in the sixth.

Breanna Adams and Molly Cann each knocked one-out singles, while a fielder's choice left the hosts with runners on the corners and two outs, when Samantha Gadomski singled and nabbed an extra bag when the Chicago outfielder couldn't play it cleanly.  But with two runners in scoring position, Bethany Regnerus got pinch hitter Jordan Raszeja to ground out to end the inning.

Finding some more life late in the game, North Central mounted a rally in the seventh inning, but fell just short. Taylor Clugston led off the inning with a single to left-center field, and Emily Miller followed suit with a base hit. Regnerus got two straight outs on a strikeout and fielder's choice, but Adams worked a full count and drew a walk to load the bases and place the tying run sixty feet from home. But Cann hit a dribbler to the second basemen for the final out of the game.

Adams struck out a game-high four batters in her seven-inning showing, moving to 4-2 on the year. She also had a solid performance at the plate, recording a pair of hits. Meanwhile, Gadomski went two-for-three with an RBI.

After coming up short and suffering their first home loss this season, the North Central players who took the field in game two barely resembled the team who struggled mightily offensively, this time scoring three runs in the first inning off two hits and two errors.

The Cardinals added two runs in the fifth inning, to push their lead to 5-0. Clugston led off with a single, reaching third when the right fielder misplayed it. Emily Miller followed with a sacrifice fly that allowed her to score, while a double by Adams a few batters later brought in another run.

Chicago's bats started to come to life in the fifth inning, when Savannah Pinedo hit a two-run homer that barely cleared the wall in right-center field. North Central made up for those runs in the following inning, which saw Gianna Corban and Gadomski each hit RBI-singles to bring the Cardinal lead to 7-2, a lead that stood at the end of the game.

Corban's performance on the circle was one of her finest yet. The freshman surrendered just one hit through her first four innings and struck out five Maroons in seven frames. She had the benefit of solid defense behind her, with Emily Miller and Molly Cann both making diving catches in the outfield, while Clugston and Rachele Belletini offered strong fielding on the left side of the infield.  

Gadomski finished three-for-three with a walk and two RBIs, while Clugston went three-for-four with a run.

North Central is scheduled to host Concordia University-Chicago Thursday, Apr. 4 for a doubleheader at Shanower Family Field, with game one set to begin at 3 p.m.