Contact: Taiah Gallisath, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302

LEESBURG, Fla. (Mar. 14, 2022) - The North Central College softball team opened its spring break trip in Leesburg, Florida with three straight victories over Roger Williams University 5-1, SUNY New Paltz 2-1, and an extensive 11 inning win against Stockton University 6-5.

The Cardinals wasted no time getting on the board against the Roger Williams Hawks (0-3) on Saturday as they utilized a solo home run by Alyssa Sturino before Jaime Smith made it to first on a walk. Breanna Adams clutched a two-run home run to gain an early lead 3-0 at the bottom of the first inning. 

With three consecutive grounded outs by the Hawks, the Cardinals began the bottom of the second with Mary Leskovec getting walked before Andrea Richards hit a double, advancing Leskovec to third. Alexa Sherlund and Sturino walked forcing all runners to advance, scoring Leskovec to extend the lead 4-0.

The Hawks saw their sole run in the third inning with bases loaded, Taylor Howell reached on a fielder's choice and scored Sydney Provencal.

Richards hit a double to start the Cardinals off in the fifth inning. A sacrifice bunt by Sherlund advanced Richards to third but a throwing error by the Hawks allowed Richards to score their final run to win 5-1.

Pitching a complete game for the Cardinals, Adams struck out 10 while surrendering one earned run on 10 hits. Four North Central batters totaled multiple hits, as the team combined for six.

In their first game on Sunday against New Paltz (3-4), the Cardinals saw their first run in the second inning as Allison Lambert hit a triple to later be sent home on a single RBI from Sarah Lynch. Sherlund and Katie Del Re each had singles in the third inning where Sherlund eventually scored to bring the score to 2-0. New Paltz got their bats going in the fourth inning but only enough to score one run, falling to North Central 1-2.

Adams pitched all seven innings allowing only four hits and tallied 11 strikeouts. Lambert led the Cardinals in hits with a triple and a single while Lynch and Sherlund each had a single. 

Sunday's second game against Stockton (3-1) saw the Ospreys take an early lead in the third inning as Brianna Segnello hit a double with two runners on, scoring Madison Kelly. The Ospreys scored an unearned run on an error making the score 2-0 heading into the fourth inning.

Smith reached on a single and stole second before Talia Torosian singled to advance Smith to third. Lambert doubled with an RBI in Smith and advanced Torosian to third. Lynch reached on an error while Torosian scored, followed by a single from Richards to score Lambert to take the lead 3-2.

Three consecutive Osprey batters reach on errors and scored a run to tie the game in regular innings. With Lynch placed on second per extra-inning rules in the 10th inning, Richards hit a clutch double to send Lynch home. Sherland hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Richards to third while Del Re grounded out to third to secure the RBI.

Not giving up easily, two Ospreys batters reached on fielders' choices. With runners on first and second, Michaela Luyber hit a double for two RBIs tying the score back up at 5-5. With Sturino placed on second, Torosian hit a triple for an RBI and to overpower the Ospreys 6-5 in 11 innings. 

Pitching all 11 innings, Adams (3-0) had 14 strikeouts while surrendering three earned runs on seven hits. Five North Central batters totaled multiple hits for a team total of nine.

North Central (3-0) continues tournament play today as they go up against New York University at 3:15 p.m. (ET) and Concordia University-Wisconsin at 5:30 p.m. (ET). Live coverage for these games can be found HERE.

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