WHEATON, Ill. – North Park softball split a pair of games with Wheaton at Ruth Leedy Field on Friday afternoon. The Vikings dropped game one, 6-4, before earning a solid 9-5 win in game two.

Game One: Wheaton 6, North Park 4

North Park got its first run on the board when sophomore infielder Kathryn Keehn cracked her first home run of the season in the second, as the solo shot put NPU up 1-0 after two. The Vikings added another run in the third when sophomore infielder Kayla Lorenz doubled, scoring sophomore pitcher Maya Lafnear.

However, in the bottom of the third, Wheaton took advantage of a pair of walks, an infielder error, and a timely double by Alese Antonella to go ahead, 4-2. The Thunder would keep their lead through the rest of the game, as an RBI triple by sophomore outfielder Eden Baker and RBI single by Lorenz in the seventh was all NPU managed.

Game Two: North Park 9, Wheaton 5

North Park got in the win column in Wheaton thanks to a big six-run second inning.

Before that, sophomore designated player Salyssa Garcia drove an RBI single to center, bringing in Keehn for the first run of the game. Wheaton tied things up in the top of the second on Antonello's RBI single, but North Park would break it open in their next trip to the plate.

Sophomore outfielder Sydney Snyder and freshman shortstop Abigail Rhoads cracked leadoff singles before an infield error moved Rhoads to second and scored Snyder. Next, Baker singled to center to load the bases and a sac fly by senior outfielder Isa Santos put NPU up, 3-1. Next, following a groundout by Keehn to move runners into scoring position, sophomore catcher Katie Patton brought them home on a double to center and Garcia followed with a double of her own, extending the lead to 6-1. The Vikings added on when freshman first baseman Dora Cihocki singled down the left-field line, scoring Garcia.

This 7-1 lead would pad North Park through the rest of the game, as a three-run fifth inning wasn't enough to cut the lead. Eden Baker picked up the win in the circle, working seven innings while scattering six hits. She struck out five against four walks en route to her fourth win of the season. 

North Park salvaged a split with a 9-5 win.

North Park (9-19, 4-4 CCIW) head to Bloomington for a doubleheader at Illinois Wesleyan on Sunday, April 21. First pitch is set for 1pm at Inspiration Field.