CHICAGO, Ill. -- North Park Softball's 2025 season came to an end on Wednesday afternoon, as the Vikings split a doubleheader with Wheaton College at the Holmgren Athletic Complex. The Vikings took game one, 5-3, before an 8-0 loss in game two.

In game one, North Park built a two-run lead through two innings, thanks to an RBI single from junior third baseman Kathryn Keehn in the first and a run-scoring single by junior catcher Katie Patton in the second. The Thunder added a run in the third on Olivia Nahorniak's RBI double, but freshman pitcher Raquel Hare navigated her way out of trouble for scoreless fourth and fifth innings.

North Park banged out three runs five hits in the fifth inning to extend its lead to 5-1. Sophomore designated player Bella Frohwirth singled up the middle and moved to third on senior second baseman Maddy Tan's double (watch here). Junior shortstop Kayla Lorenz bolted a line out to left, plating Frohwirth with a sac fly. Next, Keehn doubled to left center, plating Tan, before moving to third on a wild pitch. Junior right fielder Sydney Snyder, who made a diving catch to help preserve the NPU lead, drove in the final NPU run of the day with a single to center.

The Thunder closed the gap to 5-3, scoring one run each in the sixth and seventh, but Hare induced a groundout to earn her sixth and final win of 2025.

It was all Wheaton in game two, however, as the Thunder played with their season on the line. Wheaton grabbed the final slot in the CCIW playoffs with an 8-0 win over NPU in five innings. Frohwirth led the Vikings in game two, driving a pair of hits to account for half of the Vikings' knocks.

This concludes the 2025 campaign for NPU Softball (16-22, 4-12 CCIW). Thank you to North Park lone senior Maddy Tan, who is the Vikings' all-time leader in walks and started at second base for four seasons.