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

CCIW Tournament Information Page

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (May 9, 2024) - After a walkoff victory in its postseason opener Thursday, the North Central College softball team faces a second elimination game in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament Friday as the Cardinals seek to extend their season further.

North Central (29-11) began the day with a 3-2 victory over North Park University in the single-elimination opening round before a 4-1 loss to Augustana College to begin double-elimination play.

The Cardinals got on the board quickly against North Park (11-26) as Katie Del Re opened the first inning with a single and scored when Sarah Lynch's bunt attempt resulted in a pair of Viking throwing errors. Lynch later scored on Hailey Morsovillo's infield single, giving North Central an early 2-0 advantage.

North Park, which held the Cardinals scoreless until the game's final inning, got both of its runs off the bat of infielder Maddy Tan. A two-out double to right center in the second inning plated the Vikings' first run. Outfielder Kayla Sapolu's leadoff triple in the seventh inning enabled NPU to tie the game, 2-2, on Tan's infield single.

Lynch and Morsovillo drew walks in the seventh before Rachael Madsen stepped to the plate with two away and delivered a single up the middle, scoring Lynch and closing out the Vikings' 2024 campaign.

Morsovillo and Madsen each went 2 for 3 from the plate in the game while Del Re batted 2 for 4. Juliana Maude pitched a complete game for the 15th time in 20 starts, improving to 13-4 with the win after allowing seven hits and one walk while striking out two.

The Cardinals also pushed a run across the plate in the first inning against Augustana (26-13) as Del Re walked, advanced to second on Lynch's sacrifice bunt and scored on Morsovillo's base hit through the middle. North Central, however, was able to put just one runner in scoring position the rest of the way.

The Vikings did all of their scoring in the fourth inning, opening the frame with a single and two doubles before catcher Madison Bielfeldt belted a two-run home run. 

Morsovillo and Madsen both went 2 for 3 at the plate in the Cardinals' second game as well. Over the last five games, Morsovillo has recorded 11 hits in 16 at-bats (.688) with nine runs batted in.

North Central will open Friday's action at Illinois Wesleyan University's Inspiration Field at 1:00 p.m., facing Millikin University (22-16). The Big Blue defeated Carthage College Thursday, 21-6, before a 6-0 loss to the host Titans.  The CCIW's Tournament Information page contains a full schedule as well as the tournament program, admission information and links to live coverage.

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