RIVER FOREST, Ill. -- The Vikings softball team matched up with the Concordia University Chicago Cougars for a double header on Wednesday afternoon, taking two losses at scores of 2-10 and 7-8. NPU nearly completed a daunting comeback in Game 2 but ultimately fell just short after scoring four runs in the 7th inning. With today's results, North Park moves to 8-13-1 on the season, though the Vikings' 2-0 conference record remains intact.
Game 1
To start off the day, freshmen Kathryn Keehn and Eden Baker helped spark the Vikings to a 2-0 lead through two innings in Game 1. Keehn got North Park on the board in the 1st with a fielder's choice to plate Baker, and Baker carried the momentum with a double in the 2ndinning that brought Katie Patton home.
Unfortunately for the Vikings, those two runs would be their last of the ballgame as CUC's Jaidyn Harris settled into a groove to allow only one hit for the game's remainder. On the other side of the field, the Cougars' bats came through with a pair of four-run innings in the 3rd and 5th to eventually close out the game in six innings at a score of 2-10.
Game 2
Game 2 saw Concordia get out to a two-run lead through 2 innings—as had NPU in Game 1—but Alyssa Malicki soon flipped the score with a three-run shot to left center field to establish a 3-2 Vikings lead in the top of the 3rd.
Again though, North Park's bats ran into a cold stretch while the Cougars stayed hot with another four-run inning to take back the lead at 3-6. They would add to that total in bottoms of the 6th inning, sending the Vikings to their last trip at the plate with a 3-8 deficit to overcome.
After an out to start the 7th, Alyssa Malicki walked and stole second base to set up pinch hitter Sydney Snyder with a chance to drive in a run. Snyder instead drove in two, belting a HR for the first hit of her collegiate career and drawing NPU to 5-8 with two outs left to go.
A double from Eliza Rex and a single by Alli Patrick kept the pressure on for the Vikings, though they soon found themselves down to their last out. With both runners now in scoring position, Maddy Tan and Eden Baker each capitalized with clutch singles to bring the Vikings within one run of Concordia at 7-8. A passed ball allowed Tan to reach third, setting up Isa Santos with a chance to tie the score up, but the speedy Santos just barely got thrown out on a ground ball to shortstop to end the game. While the Vikings deserve credit for their valiant 7th inning effort, the scorebook sees it as any other loss with NPU dropping their third straight.
What's Next?
The Vikings look to get back on track this Friday when they head to Notre Dame, Indiana to take on Saint Mary's College for another double header. Game 1's first pitch is set for 1:00 P.M. with Game 2 tentatively scheduled for 3:00.
