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

Apr. 9, 2022 - The North Central College softball team clinched a pair of one-run wins over College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin leader and No. 19 Millikin University. The Cardinals move to 10-4 on the season while the Big Blue fall to 20-4 in overall play.

North Central got off to a strong start in game one as Sarah Lynch hit a triple down the right field line to be in perfect position for Breanna Adams's walk and Jamie Smith's hit forced a fielder's choice that scored Lynch. Keeping up the momentum, Alyssa Sturino's single drove Adams home to bring the score to 2-0 headed into inning two.

Millikin started out inning two with two walks before both advanced on a wild pitch and eventually scored on Lex Tennison's single to third base. Smith started off the third inning being walked as Sturino's sacrifice bunt moved her for another bag. Talia Torosian reached on an error by the second baseman that also resulted in another Cardinal run by Smith. The Big Blue looked for a rally late in the 7th inning as Kendallyn Davison reached on an error before Leah Foreman hit a triple to give Millikin their last score of the first game, but the Cardinals still took game one 3-2.

Adams pitched all seven innings of game one, securing three strikeouts and allowing five hits to gain a 6-2 win-loss record. Sarah Lynch led the Cardinals in the batter's box with two hits and an RBI alongside Smith and Torosian with an RBI each.

Game two started off with a clutch double by Katie Del Re and advanced to third on a grounder by Lynch. Adams reached on a fielder's choice to score Del Re for an RBI.The Big Blue's Tennison hit a double with a runner on second to even the score at 1-all at the bottom of the second inning. After three scoreless innings, Smith hits a solo homerun to give the Cardinals the advantage and the last score of the game as the Cardinals take game two 2-1.

Smith and Adams each earned RBIs in game two while Smith, Del Re, and Torosian talled one hit each. Gianna Corban pitched all seven innings securing five strikeouts and allowing four hits. Corban extends her win-loss record to 4-1. 

The Cardinals' next game has been moved up to Tuesday, Apr. 12  in Kenosha, Wis. First pitch against the CCIW opponent Carthage College, is set for 3:00 p.m.

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