CHICAGO, Ill. – The North Park softball team handed Carroll University their first conference loss of the season Sunday afternoon when they downed the Pioneers by a score of 6-5 in the first game played at the Holmgren Athletic Complex. Carroll struck back in game two, winning 6-1.
The sides were scoreless in game one before an Isa Santos infield single got the center fielder aboard with no outs. After stealing second, Santos was easily driven home on a single from Alyssa Malicki to make it 1-0. Two Pios runs countered in the next half inning, but the highlight play of the day would come in the bottom of the fourth when freshman Maddy Tan struck a ball down the right field line that got just beyond the glove of a diving attempt by the Carroll right fielder. Tan jetted around the diamond and after receiving the green light from Katie Anderson to head home, Tan easily strolled in for her first official collegiate dinger.
Alyssa Aragon, Malicki, and Racheal Feazelle would score runs in the fifth before a crucial insurance run would be pushed across in the sixth as Aragon scored Tan on an RBI single. Carroll threw the kitchen sink at North Park on their last chance in the top of the seventh as three Pios crossed home plate making it a one-run game when Alli Patrick would enter the circle for a save situation. With the bases loaded and one out, Patrick forced Carroll into a lineout to Tan who flipped to Aragon covering second to double the Pioneers off and win the game by the narrowest of margins.
Final: North Park 6, Carroll 5
The Vikings were victim to a gem thrown by Carroll hurler Riley Pavelka in game two. North Park did crack the pitcher into giving up her first career earned run when Feazelle scored Malicki on an RBI double in the second, but other than that, the offense was hard pressed. Katie Creager had her best outing of the season in relief, pitching two full innings, and allowing one run on just three hits.
Final: Carroll 6, North Park 1
What's Next?
The Vikings (11-11, 3-3 CCIW) will be back at home on Thursday, April 14th when they take on North Central College (10-4, 4-2 CCIW). First pitch of game one of the doubleheader is slated for 3 PM at Holmgren.
