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

WHITEWATER, Wis. (Apr. 6, 2025)-  The North Central College softball team split a doubleheader against the No. 16-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks Sunday at van Steenderen Softball Complex. The Warhawks took game one 4-0, and the Cardinals bounced back, winning game two 4-2. 

Juliana Maude, getting the start in game one, shut out the Warhawks in the first two innings before surrendering the first run in the third after an error from Rachael Madsen. In the fourth, Whitewater added another run with an RBI single, and a two-run blast in the fifth put the game out of reach, 4-0. 

The Cardinals mustered five hits and struck out six times in game one. Maude received the loss to move to 6-4 on the season, going six innings, giving up six hits and four runs, three of which were earned. She struck out three and walked two. 

North Central bounced back in game two, administering only the second loss of the Warhawks season by a score of 4-2. The Cardinals put up a two-spot in the second inning after loading the bases. Bailey Miller plated Ronnie Latka with an RBI fielder's choice, and Gracie Vlach singled to the pitcher to score Lauren Bowmar. 

With runners on second and third, Bowmar singled to center field to drive in Charlotte Toosley in the third inning to take the 3-0 lead. The Warhawks cut into the Cardinal lead in the bottom half of the third with an RBI fielder's choice, making it 3-1 Cardinals. Talia Torosian added an insurance run in the top of the sixth, scoring Madsen to extend the Cardinal lead to 4-1. A solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning inched Whitewater back, making it the 4-2 final score. 

Sam Schilf got the start for game two and pitched all seven innings, giving up five hits and two runs while punching out three to earn her sixth win of the 2025 season. Kayla Crabtree, Bowmar, and Latka combined for six hits, while four different Cardinals recorded an RBI. 

The Cardinals (13-9, 2-0 CCIW) return to action Tuesday, April 8, for a College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin doubleheader against the Carthage College Firebirds. The first pitch from Shanower Family Field is set for 3 p.m. 

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