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

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

Apr. 9, 2019 –  Propelled to a 4-1 victory in the opener by an early offensive surge, the North Central College softball team dropped the nightcap of Tuesday's doubleheader with Aurora University in a 7-2 loss that saw the Cardinals record more errors than hits.

North Central's offense came alive in the second inning, tallying four runs on five hits for their biggest single-inning run total in five games. Nykia Wetterman and Rachele Belletini each hit RBI-singles, while Taylor Clugston brought in two runs with a double down the right-field line.

Strong pitching performances from Breanna Adams and Gianna Corban in the circle combined with solid defense behind them kept Aurora off the board for much of the game. As has become the norm, Emily Miller owned the outfield, denying the Spartans a run in the second inning by throwing out a baserunner at the plate, and making a diving catch the following inning. 

Aurora put up one run in the fifth, but Adams got out of the jam without allowing the lead to shrink any more. Corban entered the game in the sixth, only to give up a walk and single that put the tying run on first base. But the freshman found her footing by striking out the next two Aurora hitters. In total, the visitors left ten runners on base. Corban put the Spartans down in short order in the seventh, tallying two more strikeouts in the process.

Adams earned the win, moving to 5-3 on the season, and stuck out one in five innings pitched. Wetterman went two-for-three with an RBI and run in a breakout performance.

Aurora flipped the script in the second game, scoring three runs in the first two innings. North Central was able to get one back in the bottom of the second, but they simply couldn't keep up with the Spartans' pace, who added four more runs in over the next three innings.

The Cardinals rallied with a three-run sixth inning in which six straight North Central hitters reached, but Stephanie Renner — who took the loss in the first game — entered with two down and two on and put a quick end to North Central's comeback hopes by getting the first batter she faced to groundout. In the seventh, she retired the side in order to earn her third save of the year. 

Corban was credited with the loss, lasting three innings. No North Central batter tallied multiple hits in the game. RBIs came from Jaime Smith, Belletini, Adams and Lisa Harrington, while Molly Cann led all batters with three walks.

Josie Lytton paced the Spartans with a three-for-four performance at the plate, recording an RBI and a pair of runs.

North Central was their own worst enemy in the nightcap, their defensive prowess from the opener giving way to a season-high six errors. Only three of Aurora's seven runs were earned.

North Central resumes College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) play Thursday, Apr. 11 when they travel to Elmhurst for a doubleheader with the Bluejays. Game one is set to begin at 3 p.m., live stats are available HERE.