Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Apr. 24, 2024 - In a dramatic series which saw both games won in walkoff fashion, the North Central College softball team split a College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) twin bill with Elmhurst University Wednesday.

The Cardinals came from behind to wrestle a 4-3 win away from the Bluejays in the first game before the visitors returned the favor with a 3-2 victory in nine innings on Senior Day at Shanower Family Field.

Elmhurst strung together three hits in the first inning of the opener to take an early 2-0 lead. Katie Del Re led off the home half of the first with a single and scored on an error to tally the Cardinals' first run. In the second, Carley Creeth singled and later scored on a wild pitch, tying the contest at 2-2.

Sarah Lynch drew a walk to lead off the third inning and came home on Rachael Madsen's single to give North Central (24-8, 9-5 CCIW) a 3-2 lead, though a two-out single in the fifth enabled the Bluejays to tie the contest at 3-3. 

In the seventh, Emma Friedlund singled and advanced to second on third on separate wild pitches. With two away in the inning, Lauren Bowmar reached on an infield single to bring Friedlund home for the game-winning run.

Sam Schilf pitched two innings of scoreless relief to earn the win (4-2), striking out three and walking one while allowing no hits. Taylor Warren drew the start and pitched the first five frames, yielding seven hits and striking out six.

Del Re also scored North Central's first run of the second game, drawing a leadoff walk and scoring on a two-out base hit by Madsen. Elmhurst (11-21, 2-10 CCIW) was held scoreless until the fourth, as a fielder's choice and a throwing error granted the visitors two baserunners before Bailey Proffitt's single knotted the score at 1-1. 

A two-out error extended Elmhurst's stay at the plate in the fifth and led to a go-ahead run on a single by Chiara O'Leary. The Cardinals tied the game once again at 2-2 in the sixth, as Friedlund led off with a single. Pinch runner Caroline Dooley advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bowmar, then came home when Kayla Crabtree reached on an outfield error.

Elmhurst's Ali Mockenhaupt led off the ninth inning with a double and advanced to third on a passed ball, coming home on O'Leary's single to left-center field with two outs.

Warren pitched the final four innings and was assigned the loss (7-4) despite allowing just one run on three hits, striking out seven.

The Cardinals conclude their CCIW regular-season schedule Thursday, traveling to Chicago to face North Park University (9-21, 4-6). Play at the Holmgren Athletic Complex is set to get under way at 3:00 p.m. Click HERE for the full 2024 schedule and live coverage options. 

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