Photo credit: Paige Wilcox
Elmhurst, Ill. – The North Park softball team had some impressive showings at the plate, but the bats of Elmhurst were too great to overcome as the Bluejays beat the Vikings 7-5 and 13-7 in their doubleheader Friday evening. Alyssa Malicki smashed two home runs in the second game marking the first time a Viking softball player has hit two bombs since Courtney Iida did it on March 10th, 2015.
Game 1
The North Park bats found more of a stride in the first game, as the Vikings out-hit the Bluejays ten to nine as Malicki, Alyssa Aragon, and Caitlyn Webb all had multiple hits for the visitors. After trailing most of the game, it was a rally in the top of the sixth that turned a 4-2 Elmhurst lead into a one-run advantage for the Vikings. Isa Santos got the rally going when she stole home, then RBI singles from Webb and Aragon put North Park up. The one-run lead wasn't enough, though, as Elmhurst answered with a rally of their own in the bottom of the sixth to take a 7-5 lead and then shut down North Park's offense to win by that same margin.
Game 2
Malicki was absolutely unstoppable in game two. After a Webb sacrifice bunt already score Ellie Manderfeld in the bottom of the first, Malicki stepped up with Racheal Feazelle on first and smashed a shot to deep left center to out North Park up 3-0. The Elmhurst bats were also hard to stop totaling 18 hits and 13 runs in the game. Malicki's next to at-bats resulted in doubles, and when she stepped up in the bottom of the seventh she slapped a solo home run to left field to try and spark a rally for the trailing Vikings, but North Park just ran out of time, falling 13-7.
Quick Hits:
- Malicki netted 14 total bases on the day for a slugging percentage of 2.000, four RBIs, and five runs scored.
- Webb had three RBIs for the Vikings and four hits.
- Brigid Early scored twice for North Park.
What's Next?
The Vikings (7-3, 3-3 CCIW) have Saturday off before heading to Lisle, Illinois to take on Benedictine University in a doubleheader on Sunday, March 28th. First pitch for game one is 1 p.m.