KISSIMMEE, Fla. — North Park softball secured another split on Tuesday at the Fortune Road Complex, falling 5-3 to Loras in the opener before responding with a composed 3-1 victory over Washington & Jefferson behind a complete-game gem from freshman Abrianne Papas.
Game 1 – Loras 5, North Park 3
North Park opened the day with early momentum, scoring in the top of the first after senior center fielder Kayla Sapolu led off with a double and later came home on senior shortstop Kayla Lorenz's RBI double to center.
The Vikings held that 1-0 lead into the fourth inning behind steady work from sophomore Raquel Hare, who stranded multiple Loras runners through the first three frames.
Loras, however, broke through in the fourth with a five-run surge. A hit-by-pitch and back-to-back walks set the table before a run scored on a bases-loaded HBP. A sacrifice fly brought home another, and consecutive RBI singles by Kaili Henning and Dana Skorich extended the lead. An infield error allowed an additional run to score, and a wild pitch plated the fifth of the inning, putting the Duhawks ahead 5-1.
North Park cut into the deficit in the sixth when senior left fielder Eden Baker singled and Lorenz drew a walk to set up Katie Patton, who lifted a two-run double to left. Despite bringing the tying run to the plate and a cracked lineout from freshman second baseman Miabella Collazo in the inning, the Vikings were held scoreless the rest of the way as Loras pitcher Kiya Steger closed out a complete-game win.
Game 2 – North Park 3, Washington & Jefferson 1
In the second game, North Park relied on a career outing from Papas in her first collegiate start and timely execution to secure the split. Washington & Jefferson struck first with an unearned run in the top of the second, scoring on a two-out throwing error after a pair of walks extended the inning.
The Vikings answered immediately in the bottom half as Collazo opened the inning with a double to left and later scored on junior designated player Bella Frohwirth's RBI groundout, evening the game at 1-1.
After several scoreless frames, highlighted by Papas repeatedly stranding traffic on the base, North Park broke the tie in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman third baseman Chloe Bader singled up the middle, senior first baseman Kathryn Keehn moved her over with a sacrifice bunt, and Baker singled through the right side to put two aboard. Baker then stole second before the Presidents escaped the inning.
The Vikings finally delivered the deciding runs in the sixth. Baker's second single of the day and another North Park hit set the stage for Collazo and Patton, who each contributed run-producing swings to put North Park in front 3-1.
Papas retired Washington & Jefferson in order in the seventh to seal the victory, completing a dominant outing featuring just four hits allowed and no earned runs in her first collegiate start in the circle.
Top Performers – North Park
Game 1 vs. Loras
Game 2 vs. Washington & Jefferson
- Miabella Collazo – 2-3, 2B, 2 runs, RBI
- Eden Baker – 2-3, run, stolen base
- Bella Frohwirth – RBI groundout
- Abrianne Papas – CG win (7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 3 K)
What's Next?
North Park (4-2) moves over to Hancock Park in Clermont, Florida for two games on Tuesday, March 10. The Vikings start with Alfred University (2-2) at 9:00 AM ET before University of Northwestern (5-5) at 11:15 AM ET.
