CHICAGO, Ill. – The North Park softball team won one and lost one against Concordia University Chicago Monday afternoon, defeating the Cougars 7-4 in game one, before falling 9-0 in five innings in game two.
Game one was a strike 'em out masterpiece by starting pitcher Alyssa Malicki, who, in addition to her bakers dozen of strikeouts which marks the most in a single game in NPU history, also had a no-hitter going through five full innings. The Cougars were able to get three across in that inning, but the offensive output from North Park was just too much for Concordia to keep up with. Alyssa Aragon was the first Viking to score after she tripled to get to third then got home on a wild pitch. A two-RBI single by freshman Alli Patrick in the third, plus Maddy Tan and Isa Santos scoring on an error in the fourth meant five were across for NPU when CUC made their sixth inning run. Tan stole home in the bottom of the sixth, before Aragon picked up her 30th RBI of the year on an infield single. That would give North Park all the insurance they would need as Malicki slammed the door to complete her complete game, four hit, 13 strikeout victory.
Nothing went the way of the Vikings in game two as five Cougar runs in the second put the host Vikings in a hole early. Hits by Malicki and Patrick threatened to get a NPU player across home plate, but CUC Ashley Shroll never allowed North Park a breakthrough. Concordia padded their lead to nine in the top of the fifth to force a run-rule ending to the contest.
What's Next?
The Vikings (8-4) will start conference play this Thursday, March 31st as they take on Wheaton College (9-5) on the road. First pitch of game one of the doubleheader will be at 3 PM at Ruth Leedy Field.
