Box Score
A five run fifth inning keyed North Central's 7-4 win over Illinois Wesleyan Saturday in the Whitewater Regional of the NCAA III softball tournament.
A Keri Leach run scoring double and RBI single from junior designated hitter Allie Riordan gave IWU a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Sophomore rightfielder Carly Trenahile homered down the right field line in the bottom of the second to cut the Wesleyan lead to 2-1. The Cardinals combined a fielder's choice, a double and a Titan error for the tying run in the bottom of the fourth. In the decisive fifth inning North Central combined five hits with two IWU errors and a walk for five runs. Freshman leftfielder Amanda Walker, sophomore shortstop Cecie Portillo, and Trenahile each drove in a run in the rally. Senior third baseman Emma Clark hit her twelfth homer of the season in the sixth for the Titans to make it 7-3. Junior second baseman Sara Rogers followed suit with one out in the seventh to close it to 7-4, but Illinois Wesleyan left the bases loaded.
Vlasta Mangia, 24-6, picked up the win for NCC, allowing eight hits, with one walk and four strikeouts. Jenna Noland, 5-3, took the loss for IWU. Alyssa Vorel pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless relief for the Cardinals. Mangia, Trenahile, Portillo, and freshman centerfielder Olivia Goethals contributed two hits each to the North Central attack. No player had more than one of Illinois Wesleyan's eight hits.
North Central, 34-10, will play Luther College at 3:00 Saturday. Illinois Wesleyan, 32-10, will face Carthage College, 31-11, in an elimination game at 1:00.
