GAME STATS 1 | GAME STATS 2 Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton softball team hosted North Central (18-18, 7-9 CCIW) on Thursday afternoon for a key CCIW doubleheader at Ruth Leedy Field. The Cardinals defeated the Thunder 3-2 in the first game, and North Central accomplished the sweep with a 2-1 victory in the second game. Wheaton (17-20, 4-10 CCIW). The Thunder will close the regular season next Wednesday at North Park in critical CCIW doubleheader with CCIW Tournament implications.

North Central won today's game 3-2 as the Cardinals scored three runs, on 13 hits, with one error. The Thunder scored twice, with seven hits, committing zero errors. Thunder starting pitcher Shylah Dozeman pitched five innings, allowing 12 hits, with three runs, with one hit and one strikeout.

Thunder catcher Olivia Nahorniak was 3-for-4, scoring one run. Cate Welch was 2-for-3, with one RBI. Paige Andrews and Livi Figueroa each contributed singles for the Thunder.

North Central scored twice in the top of the second inning to take an early 2-0 lead. Figueroa drove in a run with a RBI-single in the bottom of the second inning as Wheaton trimmed the Cardinals' lead to 2-1. The Cardinals added a run in the top of the fifth inning to extend their lead to 3-2. Nahorniak hit a single with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, and two batters later she scored on a RBI-single by Welch to cut the guests' lead to 3-2. Wheaton was unable to cross the plate in the sixth or seventh inning as the Cardinals hung on for the win.

North Central won the second game 2-1 as the Cardinals scored two runs, on six hits, with zero errors, and Wheaton recorded one run, on four hits, with one error. Freshman starting pitcher Kennedy Kemp worked six innings in the circle as she scattered six hits. Kemp allowed two runs, including two earned runs, with two strikeouts.

Nahorniak was again Wheaton's top hitter as she was 2-for-3, with one RBI. Kemp and Soleil Weaver each hit a single for the 'Orange and Blue'.

North Central scored a run at the bottom of the second inning and added another in the third. Weaver led off the top of the first inning with a single and promptly stole second base. Kemp hit a single down the third-base line that advanced Weaver to third base. Nahorniak hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield that scored Weaver and cut the Cardinals' lead to 2-1. Wheaton was unable to drive in Kemp and tie the game as the Cardinals emerged with their second one-run win of the afternoon.