Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
Apr. 10, 2024 - Making its eagerly-anticipated 2024 home debut, the North Central College softball team split a pair of closely-contested games with Lake Forest College Wednesday, bouncing back from a 3-2 loss to defeat the Foresters in the nightcap, 3-1, at Shanower Family Field.
The Cardinals (16-4) trailed early as Lake Forest scored two runs on four hits in the second inning. The Foresters extended their lead to 3-0 in the fourth before the hosts got on the board in the bottom of the inning as Katie Del Re scored on a wild pitch.
North Central had an opportunity to tie the score in the seventh, rallying with two outs. Kayla Crabtree reached on an error, and another error enabled pinch hitter Caroline Dooley to reach safely with pinch runner Ronnie Latka safe at second. A single up the middle by Del Re brought Latka home and gave the Cardinals runners on the corners before the Foresters (11-9) were able to close the contest out.
Del Re recorded three of North Central's five hits, going a perfect 3 for 3 at the plate. Juliana Maude yielded just three hits and two earned runs in seven innings but was assigned her first loss of the season (7-1).
Lake Forest also led early in the second game as Makayla Tarasiewicz belted a home run to left-center field in the second inning. In the home half of the second, the Cardinals' Rachael Madsen returned the favor with a solo shot of her own, the first of her collegiate career.
North Central pulled in front in the third inning on a Forester miscue. Sarah Lynch stole second base and Lake Forest catcher Cheyenne Pelletierre threw to third in an attempt to pick off Bailey Miller. The throw sailed high, enabling Miller to come home. The hosts added an insurance run in the sixth as Del Re led off the inning with a single, stole second, and scored on Talia Torosian's single which ricocheted off the pitcher's glove on its path to center field.
Del Re went 2 for 3 in the nightcap to complete a 5 for 6 day at the plate, while Madsen batted 2 for 2. Taylor Warren pitched the first 4-1/3 innings and was credited with the win (7-2), scattering four hits. Sam Schilf came on in relief with the bases loaded in the fifth and got the Cardinals out of the jam, setting down all eight batters the rest of the way and earning the save.
North Central is back in action at home Friday, taking on Mount Mary College (Wisconsin). Play is scheduled to get under way at 3:00 p.m. Click HERE for the full 2024 schedule and live coverage options.
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