CHICAGO, Ill. - The Elmhurst softball team opened the CCIW portion of its schedule by salvaging a doubleheader split with North Park University. The Bluejays dropped the opener 2-1 in nine innings, but rallied for a 7-4 win in game two.

Elmhurst moved to 15-7 overall and 1-1 in the CCIW with the split.

NORTH PARK 2, ELMHURST 1 (Game One) - Elmhurst was limited to only four hits in a 2-1 nine-inning loss to North Park.

Courtney Iida put North Park on the scoreboard in the third inning by blasting a solo home run. 
 

Elmhurst took advantage of a North Park error to pull even in the sixth inning. Bella Masini reached on a two-out error and came home to score on Katie Boals' RBI double. 

North Park put runners in scoring position in both the seventh and eighth innings, but Elmhurst pitchers Stefanie Sanidas and Stephanie Sturino worked out of jams. The Vikings ended the contest in the ninth. With two outs and a runner on first, the Vikings used a pair of singles to load the bases. Cyerra Rodriguez ended the game with a bases loaded single to give the Vikings the walk-off victory.

Stephanie Hintz collected two of Elmhurst's four hits in the loss.

Sanidas made the start and took a no-decision, throwing 7.1 innings and allowing eight hits and one run. She walked three and fanned eight. Sturino took the loss in relief, surrendering four hits and one run in 1.1 innings of work. 

ELMHURST 7, NORTH PARK 4 (Game Two) - Elmhurst scored four times in the bottom of the sixth inning to erase a deficit and earn a 7-4 victory in the night cap.

North Park scored a pair of runs in the first to take a quick 2-0 lead, but Elmhurst answered back with a two-run single from Alyssa Jasinski in the third.

The Vikings went back in front on a two-run homer from Julianna Faulconer in the top of the fifth.  Jasinski delivered an RBI single in the fifth to bring the Bluejays back to within a run. 

Elmhurst surged in front in the sixth. With the bases loaded and just one out, Katie Boals singled home a run to even the score at four. A wild pitch scored Ele Walter and put the Bluejays in front. Jasinski added an RBI single and Tiffany Potthast lifted a sacrifice fly to tack on a pair of insurance runs for Elmhurst.

Jasinski powered Elmhurst at the plate, finishing 4-for-4 with four RBIs. Boals added a pair of hits while scoring two runs and driving in a run. Masini scored three runs for Elmhurst in the win.

Potthast improved to 7-1 on the year with the victory from the circle. She scattered nine hits and two walks in six innings of work. She struck out four in the win. Sturino pitched a scoreless seventh inning to record her first save of the year.

Elmhurst hosts North Central College on Thursday, April 9.