Chicago, Ill. – On a cold day at the Holmgren Athletic Complex, the North Park softball team (10-3, 4-3 CCIW) came out on top of the one full game played against Wheaton College by a score of 4-3, while game two was halted in the top of the fourth due to weather with the score 6-6 and the Vikings at-bat with the bases loaded with one out. Game two will be resumed at a later date.

Game 1

After falling behind 3-0 in the first two innings, Emily Reczek was the North Park hero for the second straight game grabbing three key RBIs including a walk-off double to win game one. The Viking scoring got started in the fourth when Reczek slapped a double to deep left center to score Rachael Feazelle and Alyssa Malicki. Soon after, Nicole Donnawell drove home Reczek to even the game at three. The next few innings were a pitching duel between the past two CCIW pitchers of the week with Malicki and Emilie Gist throwing back-and-forth scoreless innings. The game went to extras and after Malicki shut the Thunder bats down in the top of the eighth, North Park was ready to end the game in the bottom of the inning. Catcher Erin Penn drew a walk and Reczek took a 3-2 pitch all the way to the wall in right center field that was enough for Penn to score all the way from first and win the game for NPU. Malicki picked up the win with five strikeouts and only two earned runs allowed.

Game 2

Both team's bats were hot in game two with three RBIs from Malicki, and one from Penn and Reczek that had the score at 6-6 in the top of the fourth inning. Unfortunately, the Chicago air was too cold, as the North Park bats again were clicking as they had the bases loaded with one out before the umpires decided to halt the game where it stood, due to weather. Game two will be resumed at a later date, to be announced.

Quick Hits:

• Malicki picked up the win in game one, throwing all eight innings and striking out five, she also had three RBIs in the stunted game two.
• Feazelle and Reczek had multiple hits in game one, picking up two and three hits, respectively, while Reczek had those three RBIs including the game-winner.
• Caitlyn Webb and Alyssa Aragon each scored two runs in game two.

What's Next?

North Park (10-3, 4-3 CCIW) gets a day off before heading to Bloomington to take on Illinois Wesleyan (6-6, 4-4 CCIW) on Saturday, April 3^rd. First pitch for game one of that doubleheader is set for noon.