Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302

Elmhurst, Ill. (Apr. 11th, 2021) - Winning both ends of a doubleheader for the first time this season, the North Central College softball team posted a combined 24 runs and 29 hits over the two games to sweep Elmhurst on Sunday afternoon at Salt Creek Park.

Jaime Smith hit her sixth double of the season to score Katie Del Re as the Cardinals struck first in the scoring column. Still in the first inning, Dakota Novak used a two-run single to extend North Central's early lead to 3-0. Elmhurst responded by scoring two runs in the bottom half of the inning. 

The Cardinals kept the offense going as Del Re singled, allowing Kylie Ryza to score. After Del Re recorded her second stolen base of the game, she scored on a Smith single. Smith moved to second on the throw and advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on an Emily Miller RBI-groundout, as North Central led 6-2 after three innings of play. 

Tacking on two more runs, Alexa Sherlund scored both Elena Stevenson and Andrea Richards on a two-run single to left field. In the fourth inning, Miller scored on a wild pitch as the Cardinals held a 9-2 advantage. Pitcher Samantha Gadomski held the Bluejays to one run the rest of the way, giving North Central a 9-3 win in game one.

Picking up where they left off, the Cardinals scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a Talia Torosian two-run double, followed by Novak's ninth hit of the year to bring home Torosian. 

Not going down without a fight, the Blue Jays rallied to score six runs in the top half of the second inning. Del Re answered with her second triple of the season. Breanna Adams knotted the game at six with an RBI single to score Smith. North Central took the lead when Stevenson singled up the middle, allowing Torosian and Adams to score.

Adding a plethora of insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, Amanda Martinez scored her second run of the season on a Del Re single. Pitcher Gianna Corban earned her fifth win of the year as North Central went on to win 15-7 in five innings.

The Cardinals host Carthage College on Tuesday afternoon at Shanower Family Field. The first pitch is set for 3:00 PM. You can find links to full in-game coverage HERE.

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