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

Apr. 30, 2024 - Enjoying some of its most prolific offensive output of the season, the North Central College softball team concluded the home portion of its 2024 schedule Saturday with a heavy-hitting sweep of Benedictine University at Shanower Family Field.

The Cardinals scored five runs in the final two innings of the first game to claim a 7-2 win before prevailing, 13-11, in a seesaw battle in the nightcap.

North Central got on the board in the second inning of the opener, as Lauren Bowmar delivered a run-scoring double. The Eagles (23-13) countered with a run of their own in the third before the hosts moved in front for good in the bottom of the inning. Ronnie Latka and Talia Torosian singled and Sarah Lynch reached on an error to load the bases before Emma Friedlund was hit by a pitch to bring home the go-ahead run.

The Cardinals (27-9) plated a pair of insurance runs in the fifth as Madsen and Lynch led off with singles before Torosian moved both over with a sacrifice bunt. Hailey Morsovillo drove in a run with a groundout and Friedlund singled home a run to extend the lead to 4-1.

North Central rallied with two outs to score three more runs in the sixth as Latka walked and Madsen reached on an error and Lynch doubled to drive them in, completing a 3 for 4 effort at the plate. Lynch came home on Torosian's single on the next pitch.

Juliana Maude pitched all seven innings and improved to 12-3 with the win, allowing one earned run on nine hits while striking out seven and walking three.

Tuesday's second game saw five lead changes and 22 of its 24 runs scored in the first four innings. Benedictine tallied a run in the first before the Cardinals pulled in front in the home half of the inning on a double by Torosian and a single by Morsovillo.

The Eagles countered with a three-run second inning, though the hosts followed with three of their own to pull back in front, 5-4. North Central loaded the bases with no outs on a double by Latka, a walk by Madsen and an infield single by Lynch before a two-run single by Morsovillo and a sacrifice fly by Friedlund. The Cardinals extended their lead to 8-4 in the third on a single by Lynch and a two-run double by Morsovillo.

Benedictine sent 11 batters to the plate in the fourth and scored six runs, five of which came with two outs, to regain the lead at 10-8. The Cardinals pulled back in front for the final time with four runs in the fourth, as Latka delivered an RBI infield single and Lynch singled to drive in two more before scoring on an error.

North Central added a final run in the sixth as Torosian doubled and scored on a base hit by Morsovillo. The Eagles staged a rally with two away in the seventh, scoring a run and advancing the tying run to second base before Maude completed a three-inning save with a groundout.

Morsovillo went 4 for 5 with six runs batted in, while Latka went 3 for 4 and Lynch and Torosian each finished 3 for 5. Caroline Dooley closed out the fourth inning and was credited with the win (3-0) while Maude recorded her third save of the campaign.

The Cardinals wrap up the regular season Wednesday at Aurora University (27-8). Play at Bedrosian Stadium is set to begin at 3:00 p.m. Click HERE for the full 2024 schedule and live coverage options. 

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