Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Mar. 13, 2024) - Bouncing back from a close loss by posting a fifth shutout victory, the North Central College softball team split its two games Thursday in THE Spring Games, rallying from a 6-5, eight-inning setback against Farmingdale State College (New York) to defeat Salem State University (Massachusetts), 4-0, at the Fortune Road Athletic Complex.
The Cardinals (8-2) got on the board in the second inning of the opener as Rachael Madsen and Sarah Lynch drove in runs with a double and a single, respectively. Farmingdale tallied its first run in the bottom of the inning, though Hailey Morsovillo's run-scoring single made it a 3-1 North Central lead in the third. The Cardinals extended their lead to 4-1 in the fifth on Talia Torosian's RBI double.
The Rams (2-3) sent nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the fifth, plating three runs to tie the score at 4-4. Farmingdale was able to load the bases with two away in the bottom of the seventh, but relief pitcher Taylor Warren induced a popup in foul territory to send the contest into an extra inning.
Katie Del Re gave North Central a 5-4 lead in the top of the eighth, advancing to third base on Torosian's sacrifice bunt before racing to beat the throw home on a ground ball. The Rams loaded the bases once again in the home half of the eighth, tying the score on Jenna Gilibe's single through the left side before tallying the game-winning run on Bailey Hammo's base hit to left field.
Torosian went 2 for 3 at the plate in the day's first game, while Morsovillo finished 2 for 4.
Thursday's second matchup remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth, when a two-out single up the middle by Madsen brought home pinch runner Caroline Dooley. The Cardinals loaded the bases in the sixth with two outs, and a Salem State error enabled pinch runner Carley Creeth to cross the plate before Gracie Vlach's single padded North Central's lead to 4-0.
Madsen batted 2 for 3 in the nightcap while Vlach went 2 for 4. Warren improved to 4-1 on the young season with the victory, allowing just two hits and striking out 10 in six innings before Sam Schilf struck out the side in the seventh.
The Cardinals resume play Thursday, taking on Fredonia (New York) at 4:00 p.m. and Montclair State University (New Jersey) at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time at Hancock Park in Clermont. Live video coverage is available on a pay-per-view basis at www.flosoftball.com.
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