CHICAGO, Ill. -- For the first time in program history, North Park University softball snuck in a home date on a beautiful February afternoon, sweeping a doubleheader against the Hope Flying Dutch. Senior shortstop Kayla Lorenz enjoyed a sensational start to the season, going 4-for-7 with 3 triples and 6 RBI on the day.
Game One: Vikings 9, Dutch 1
Game One unfolded slowly at first, with Hope striking in the opening frame on a run-scoring bunt, but North Park's starting pitcher, sophomore Raquel Hare, soon settled in. The right-hander threw a complete-game effort, allowing just one run on six hits while walking only one batter across six steady innings.Â
North Park's offense began to spark when tripled to center field, the first of her two triples in the opener. Lorenz later delivered the decisive swing in the sixth inning, ripping a bases-clearing triple that broke the game open and capped her three-RBI performance.
That sixth inning proved decisive. Twelve Vikings came to the plate as North Park poured in eight runs on six hits. The rally featured contributions from senior outfielders Eden Baker and Sydney Snyder, senior catcher Katie Patton, and senior designated player Salyssa Garcia, along with Lorenz's key blast. Baker tallied three hits on the day, while Snyder reached base three times and drove in a run. Garcia delivered the final blow, cracking a first-pitch single into right field to plate Snyder for the walkoff.
Lorenz finished Game One with two hits, two triples, three runs batted in as Baker also added a multi-hit game with a 2-for-3 performance.
Game Two: Vikings 12, Dutch 11
Game Two took on a dramatically different tone. Hope jumped ahead early, scoring six runs in their first two trips to the plate. But the Vikings did not wilt away, responding with a six-run second inning.
The rally began a bases-loaded groundball off the bat of freshman third baseman Chloe Bader got the best of the Hope shortstop, scoring Snyder. Next, senior center fielder Kayla Sapolu drove a two-strike single up the middle, plating Garcia, before Lorenz stepped up with the bases jammed and two outs. In a two-strike count, Lorenz once again provided the spark by driving a bases-clearing triple to right-center. Freshman second baseman Miabella Collazo followed with a triple of her own, creating a new ball game at 6-6 through two innings.
North Park added two more runs in the fifth inning before pushing ahead in the sixth. Timely hitting from Garcia, Patton, and Collazo, helped along by Hope defensive miscues, produced four runs that gave the Vikings their first lead of the contest. Lorenz contributed again with another hit and crossed the plate during the rally, continuing her exceptional day.
Relief pitching played a crucial role in closing the door. Freshman Abrianne Papas provided 2.2 innings of steady relief, allowing just one run and calming the early chaotic start while fellow freshman Wrigley Nolen took over and retired Hope in order, securing her first collegiate save and preserving Papas's first collegiate win.
Lorenz's Exceptional Day
In Game One, Lorenz went 2-for-4 with two triples and three RBI. In Game Two, she reached base three times, scored three runs, added another triple, and drove in three more runs—including a critical three-run shot during the second-inning comeback. This is just the third time in program history where a Viking had a multi-triple game - Ellie Manderfeld triple three times against Albion in 2018 while Hayler Jackson had a pair of triples against Simpson during the 2019 season.
What's Next?
North Park (2-0) won't return to the Holmgren Athletic Complex for intercollegiate competition for another month. They begin their annual trip to Florida for the THE Spring Games beginning March 8 for a game against Aurora University followed by Ohio Northern University in Kissimmee, Florida.
