Contact: Sam Fretto, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant, sjfretto@noctrl.edu

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (May 9, 2025)- After advancing to day two of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Softball Tournament, the North Central College softball team had an elimination game against the Augustana Vikings, where they fell 1-0 Friday at Inspiration Field. 

The only run of the ball game was scored in the top of the first inning after Augustana led off with an Alexis Duke double to right center field. McKenzie Stontz drove in Duke immediately with a single up the middle. Starting pitcher Juliana Maude then settled in and retired the next three Vikings. The Cardinals loaded the bases in the bottom of the first looking to answer but stranded the runners. 

The Cardinals were retired in order in the second and third innings and only managed to have one base runner in the fourth before going three up, three down in the fifth. In the sixth inning with runners on first and second and two outs, Kayla Crabtree struck out looking, leaving the runners on. Down 1-0 with three outs remaining, Lauren Bowmar hit a leadoff single but got cut down on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Bailey Miller. Sydney Nienhouse ended the game with a lineout double play to shortstop, with Miller being thrown out on the basepaths. 

Hailey Morsovillo registered two of the five Cardinals' hits as the Cardinals' offense struggled, leaving six runners on base. Maude took the loss, allowing just one run across seven innings pitched on eight hits while striking out four. 

The Cardinals end the 2025 season with a 20-23 overall record while finishing regular season conference play 7-9.

Download the free North Central Cardinals app, available for iOS and Android devices, to receive up-to-the-minute news, scores and updates on your favorite North Central teams. Click HERE for more information.