NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Powered by three extra-base hits from freshman shortstop Kayla Lorenz and three game-one steals by sophomore second baseman Maddy Tan, North Park softball swept Saint Mary's College (IN) on Friday afternoon.
Game 1, 6-4 NPU
The Belles tacked on three runs in the first inning of game one on three RBI doubles, putting the Vikings behind the eight ball from the jump. However, an RBI single by Katie Patton in the second and two-run double by Lorenz and RBI groundout by Kathryn Keehn in the third tied the game, 3-3. Keehn pushed another run across with a sac fly in the fifth and a Maddy Tan squeeze bunt in the seventh gave North Park a three-run cushion. Saint Mary's got a run back in their final trip to the plate, but the Vikings kept their distance with a 6-4 win.
Game Two, 5-1 NPU
The second game of the doubleheader was all North Park, as four of the six Vikings' hits went for extra bases. Meanwhile, North Park starter Alyssa Malicki fanned nine Belles and scattered two hits in a near shutout, complete-game performance.
The big hits were delivered by Malicki in the first and third inning – a two-run triple and RBI infield single, respectively – followed by Keehn's run-scoring double and a passed ball in the sixth.
Quick Hits:
- Maddy Tan swipes three bases in game one, only the second time a Viking has done that since Paige Massa against Trinity International on March 28, 2013
- Two doubles and a triple for Lorenz
- Malicki 4-for-7 in the doubleheader with a game-two triple
- Keehn drives in three for the Vikings
What's Next?
North Park is right back to league action 24 hours later, traveling to Waukesha, Wis. on April 8 for a doubleheader with Carroll. First pitch for game one is set for 1:00 PM CT.
