Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

ELMHURST, Ill. (Apr. 11, 2023) - In the midst of their College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin slate, the North Central College softball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader to Elmhurst University on Tuesday evening.

Game one began with Katie Del Re and Sarah Lynch each hitting a single to put themselves on base. Alyssa Sturino took advantage of a Bluejay error as Del Re scored to give the Cardinals the early lead. Sturino stole second which allowed Lynch to come home on the throw. Charlotte Toosley hit an RBI single up the middle to put North Central on top, 3-0 after just one half inning of play. 

Starting pitcher Sam Schilf set Elmhurst down in order for the first two innings as the Cardinals held onto a 3-0 lead through two innings. 

The Bluejays led off the bottom of the third with their first two batters reaching base. After a sacrifice bunt put both runners in scoring position, Elmhurst scored on a wild pitch and an RBI single to bring themselves within one run, 3-2.

The Cardinal threatened again in the fourth as Emma Friedlund and Bailey Miller singled to open the inning. A sacrifice bunt from Lauren Bowmar put them on second and third, but North Central could not take advantage with the next two batters popping out.

Elmhurst tied the game in the bottom half of the fourth as the leadoff batter came around to score on a wild pitch. 

Following a scoreless fifth inning from both sides, the Bluejays used a leadoff walk and another sacrifice bunt to put themselves in scoring position. Elmhurst doubled to take a 4-3 lead which would stand through the top of the seventh with the Bluejays taking game one, 4-3.

Del Re and Friedlund each tallied two hits with Sturino scoring and driving in a run for the game. Both Schilf and Bowmar allowed two runs each with Bowmar suffering the loss. She struck out three over her 3.1 innings pitched.

Game two saw the Cardinals knot the contest at 1-1 as Lynch drove in Del Re in the bottom of the third inning. 

Caroline Dooley kept the game tied until the seventh when the Bluejays scored three runs on four hits to take a 4-1 lead. North Central could not push a run across in the bottom half of the seventh as Elmhurst completed the sweep.

Del Re recorded two hits and a run scored while Lych posted the line RBI. Friedlund and Sturino also notched hits in the game. Dooley drops to 3-10 on the year with 6.1 innings, striking out one with four runs allowed.

The Cardinals are back in action on Thursday as they host North Park University. The doubleheader is set to begin at Shanower Family Field at 3 p.m.

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