Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

CLERMONT, Fla. (Mar. 13, 2025) - Following a game one loss to Alfred University, the North Central College softball team never trailed in a 4-1 victory over Montclair State University Thursday afternoon at the Spring Games.

Cardinal starter Sam Schilf allowed just one hit through the first five innings of game one, posting four 1-2-3 innings in the circle. The North Central offense was also held in check as the teams entered the fifth inning in a 0-0 stalemate. 

Both teams recorded a hit in the sixth, but neither were moved into scoring position. In the top of the seventh, the Saxons broke a scoreless tie with a triple and fielder's choice to take a 1-0 lead. A Rachel Madsen lead-off single in the bottom of the seventh turned into a scoring opportunity as Madsen stole second base. Lauren Bowmar hit a clutch two-out RBI single to right field to plate Madsen and send the game into extra innings.

Each team began with a runner on second base in their respective half of the eighth inning. After a single put runners on the corners, a Saxon stolen base and two-run single gave Alfred the lead for good. The Cardinals went three-up, three-down in the bottom half of the eighth as North Central fell to the Saxons, 3-1.

Hailey Morsovillo recorded a game-high two hits as Madsen scored the lone Cardinal run with Bowmar driving her in. Schilf threw all eight innings, striking out seven, and allowing three runs (two earned) in the game.

Kayla Crabtree launched her second home run of the season to give North Central a 1-0 advantage after two innings of play in game two. In the top of the third, Talia Torosian hit an RBI double to plate Madsen before coming around to score on a Hailey Morsovillo RBI single to take a 3-0 lead.

Juliana Maude remained in control in the circle through the fourth inning. The Red Hawks loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth inning, but Maude kept Montclair State off the scoreboard thanks to a caught stealing at the plate.

The Cardinals tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh, as two Red Hawks errors allowed Charlotte Toosley to score. Montclair State scored a run in the bottom of the seventh, but Maude closed out the game to earn her third win of the season.

Morsovillo led all batters with two hits on the day while Crabtree's home run gave North Central a lead it would not lose. Maude struck nine batters out while only issuing two walks and six hits.

North Central concludes its Florida trip with games Friday against Saint Joseph's College of Maine (11:15 a.m.) and Regis College (2 p.m.) at Hancock Park.

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