CLERMONT, Fla. – North Park softball dropped a pair of games on Thursday afternoon inside Legends Way Ballfields. The Vikings suffered a 11-2 shortgame loss to Ohio Northern before a close 3-2 loss against Washington College (MD) in game two.

Game 1: Ohio Northern 11, North Park 2 (5 Inn.)

Freshman infielder Dora Cihocki  launched the first home run of her collegiate career to left-center field, scoring sophomore outfielder Eden Baker, to give North Park an early 2-0 lead in the second inning. In the circle, sophomore Maya Lafnear worked three scoreless innings before the Polar Bears piled on six runs via three hits and an error to go up 6-2 in the fourth.

Ohio Northern added five more runs in the fifth on four hits, including a three-run homer by Griffin. Unfortunately, the two-run shot by Cihocki would be the only way NPU got on the board, falling 11-2 to the Polar Bears.

Game 2: Washington College (MD) 3, North Park 2

The Shorewomen took advantage of a first-inning bases-loaded situation when an RBI walk by L. Barnhart score H. Solge. A wild pitch would plate another run, giving Washington a 2-0 lead early. North Park responded when senior outfielder Isa Santos singled to center before sophomore infielder Salyssa Garcia chopped a single up the middle. After a flyout, Baker found the middle again, scoring Santos, to close the gap to 2-1 after the first inning.

Washington added another run in the second inning due to a pair of Viking errors. 

After a scoreless third inning, North Park got a run back with two outs when sophomore Sydney Snyder singled to right field, scoring pinch runner Anna Canales. Unfortunately, this score would stand. Despite out-hitting the Shorewomen 8-4, the Vikings would fall 3-2.

North Park (2-5) will finish their time in Florida with two more games at Legends Way. The Vikings will play Ohio Wesleyan at 9:15 AM ET before an afternoon game with Lawrence University at 1:45 PM ET.