MEQUON, Wis. -- The North Park University softball team dropped both games of a neutral-site doubleheader against Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Monday afternoon with scores of 7-5 and 6-5.
Game One
In the opener, North Park narrowly fell, 6-5, after a late rally was not enough to overcome Stevens Point's third and fourth-inning surges.
After trailing 5-1 entering the seventh inning, the Vikings scored four runs in the final frame but left the tying run stranded. Seniors Eden Baker and Kayla Lorenz sparked the offense, finishing with five of the Vikings' seven hits and driving in runs during the comeback attempt. Most notably, Lorenz became the all-time RBI leader in the seventh inning by driving a bases-clearing double to left-center to bring the game to 5-4 in the Pointers' favor.
Senior catcher Katie Patton added a key RBI triple in the seventh, while senior left fielder Sydney Snyder contributed two hits and scored a run.
Game Two
The second game saw North Park fall 7-5, despite out-hitting Stevens Point, 8-7. The Pointers scored in six of seven innings, capitalizing on free passes and defensive miscues.
North Park answered with a three-run second inning highlighted by Baker's three-run triple. The Vikings added two more runs in the seventh inning on freshman second baseman Miabella Collazo's squeeze bunt and and RBI triple for Patton, but it wouldn't be enough. Baker finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs, while Patton and Collazo each drove in runs. Katelyn Meyer started in the circle for North Park, with Wrigley Nolen providing scoreless relief over the final two innings.
What's Next?
North Park (10-16, 2-4 CCIW) has a few days away from competition before returning to Holmgren on Saturday, April 18, for a pair of conference games against Carroll. First pitch in Chicago is set for 1:00 PM CT.
