LEESBURG, Fl. – The North Park softball team's season got underway Sunday afternoon in Florida with two results going against the Vikings in a 10-5 loss to Simpson College and a 2-1 loss to the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
In game one, the Vikings fell down 1-0 in the top of the first before grabbing the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Alyssa Aragon evened it up on an RBI single scoring Caitlyn Webb and Aragon was brough home to make it 2-1 when Alyssa Malicki reached on an error. In the top of the third, the Storm scored again to make it 2-2 before NPU again responded strongly. Aragon slapped an RBI triple down into right field, before scoring herself on a base hit by Rachael Feazelle. Simpson broke the game open with a seven-run top of the fourth and this time there was no response from the Vikings. The final North Park run came when Alli Patrick scored Feazelle for Patrick's first career RBI.
Final: Simpson 10, North Park 5
Despite a gem from Rachael Feazelle, game two also ended in a loss for NPU, this time to UW-Stout. A bases loaded walk by Maddy Tan gave the Vikings a 1-0 lead as well as a first career RBI for Tan. The Blue Devils answered with a run in the bottom of the first before both offenses went quiet for the next five innings. It wasn't until the bottom of the sixth when a double from UW-Stout pushed the winning run across in what would be a one-run decision. Feazelle pitched the complete game, allowed two runs, only five hits, and striking out five. Webb was the lone Viking with multiple hits in the contest with two.
Final: UW-Stout 2, North Park 1
What's Next?
Another competition day in Florida will occur on Monday, March 14th. North Park (0-2) will take on Massachusetts College of the Liberal Arts (0-4) at 4 PM and Curry College (1-2) at 6:15 PM.
