Contact: Sam Fretto, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, sjfretto@noctrl.edu

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Apr. 22, 2025)- Snapping their four-game losing streak with a 2-1 walk-off victory against the Carroll Pioneers, the North Central College softball team split their doubleheader Tuesday at Shanower Family Field. The Cardinals walked off the Pioneers in game one but got walked off in game two by a score of 2-1 in 10 innings. 

The scoring in game one started with a third-inning leadoff double by Rachael Madsen before she got bunted to third by Gracie Vlach. With two outs, Hailey Morsovillo drove in her 13th run of the season with a single down the right field line. Starting pitcher Juliana Maude allowed just four runners on base in the first six innings before running into trouble in the seventh. Facing runners on first and third with no outs, the Pioneers tied the game 1-1 with a sacrifice fly. Maude let up another walk, and Sam Schilf entered the game. With runners on first and second and one out, Carroll grounded out to Schilf and popped up to Carley Creeth. The Cardinals walked it off in the bottom of the seventh after the Cardinals loaded the bases with a single, a walk, and a hit by pitch. With Megan Traxinger up and two outs, the Pioneers hit Traxinger. 

Schilf got the win to improve to 7-8 on the season, getting just two outs in the game. Maude pitched 6.1 innings, allowing one run and striking out seven but getting a no decision. Morsovillo and Lauren Bowmar each had two hits in game one. 

The Cardinals took the lead in game two, scoring in the third inning after Bowmar led off with a single and got bunted to second. With two outs, Madsen doubled home Bowmar, driving in her 10th RBI of the season. Taylor Warren cruised through the first four innings, allowing just four base runners, but Carroll tied the game, 1-1, in the fifth inning with a single to right field. The game remained at a stalemate into extra innings after the Pioneers threatened to score in the bottom of the seventh after a runner reached third off an error by Kayla Crabtree. Maude came in for Warren and forced extras with a groundout. 

The Pioneers walked it off in the 10th inning on a Cardinal error. With runners on first and second and nobody out, Kiana Johnson threw down a sacrifice bunt that popped in the air but dropped. Johnson was out at first, and Jenna Andler was caught in a rundown, which allowed Morgan Miller to go from second to home. 

Maude received the loss in game two after going 2.1 innings and being responsible for the game-winning run on base. Talia Torosian hit two doubles in the game two loss. 

North Central (16-16, 5-7 CCIW) travels down to Bloomington, Ill., for a rescheduled doubleheader against the Illinois Wesleyan Titans (23-7, 8-0 CCIW). First pitch from Inspiration Field is set for 3 p.m.

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