CHICAGO & KALAMAZOO -- North Park softball had a CCIW split against Carroll on Saturday before before dropping a pair of non-conference games at Kalamazoo on Sunday.

Saturday Games against Carroll:

In the Vikings' best game of the weekend, North Park matched the Pioneers with six hits, but nine free passes through six walks and three Vikings hit by pitch gave North Park significantly more opportunities to score.

The first big knock of the game was a two-run deep single to left center by freshman Dora Cihocki, scoring sophomore catcher Katie Patton and sophomore shortstop Kayla Lorenz.

North Park piled on in the sixth, racking up eight runs in the inning. Four runs were scored by bases-loaded free passes while senior outfielder Isa Santos had an RBI single and Lorenz ripped a two-run single up the left-field line.

Pitcher Maya Lafnear tossed a six-inning shutout in the shortgame win, punching out three batters while scattering six hits without allowing a free pass.

Sunday Games against Kalamazoo:

After just totaling four hits in a 3-0 loss to the Hornets in game one, the NPU offense stepped up in game two.

Patton was a perfect 2-for-2 with a double while freshman Vivian Santillan also came through in a big spot with a pinch-hit double the first hit of her collegiate career.

Unfortunately, a 2-0 lead disappeared in the fifth inning when Kalamazoo collected three hits, took advantage of an infield error, and scored four runs.

North Park got a run back in the sixth on Santillan's RBI double, plating sophomore infielder Maddy Tan, but the Vikings would come up just short in the 4-3 loss.

North Park (7-17, 3-3 CCIW) is back home for its second-to-last set of home games on Tuesday, April 16 against Benedictine. First pitch for the doubleheader at Holmgren is set for 3:00 PM.