CHICAGO, Ill. – A three-run double from Stephanie Sturino and a six-RBI performance from Mikayla Melone helped the Elmhurst softball team sweep a doubleheader from North Park University.

Elmhurst scored a 3-1 win in game one behind Sturino's three-run double. Melone's six RBIs and Tara Cannella's walk-off single helped the Bluejays rally for a 9-8 win in game two to complete the sweep. Elmhurst improved to 12-14 overall and 3-5 in the CCIW with the wins while North Park fell to 6-28 overall and 2-10 in league play.
 
ELMHURST 3, NORTH PARK 1 (Game One) – Stephanie Sturino doubled in three runs in the top of the first and Stefanie Sanidas made it hold up, pitching the Bluejays to a 3-1 victory.
 
Elmhurst snapped a five-game CCIW slide with the victory.
 
The Bluejays scored all three of their runs in the first inning one swing of the bat from Sanidas. Bri Getzloff led off the game with a walk. Lauren Rismondo followed with a single. After Mikayla Melone reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases, Sturino doubled to center to score all three runs.
 
The three runs was all Sanidas needed as the senior pitcher shut down the Vikings' offense, retiring seven straight from the first through third inning. The Vikings took advantage of an Elmhurst error to score an unearned run and but the tying runs in scoring position with no outs. Sanidas pitched out of the jam, retiring three straight batters on infield pop outs. Sanidas shut down the Vikings in order in the seventh to finish the contest.
 
Val Perrelli recorded two hits for the Bluejays in the victory.
 
Sanidas improved to 6-7 overall with the win, working seven innings and allowing just four hits and one unearned run. She walked one while fanning two.
 
ELMHURST 9, NORTH PARK 8 (Game Two) – Mikayla Melone homered and drove in six runs to help the Bluejays' erase a four-run deficit and take game two 8-4.
 
The Bluejays grabbed a 1-0 lead on a first-inning sacrifice fly from Melone. A two-run single from Kendall Podschweit sparked a three-run top of the third for North Park, giving the Vikings a 3-1 lead.
 
Elmhurst answered back in the bottom of the inning. After a one-out triple from Getzloff, Rismondo reached on an infield single. With two outs and two on, Melone belted a three-run homer to center to put Elmhurst back in front at 4-3.
 
North Park surged back in front with five runs in the top of the fourth. Emily Vesely delivered a key, two-run single to cap the Vikings' inning.
 
The Bluejays scored four runs in the fifth to pull even at 8-8. Melone started the scoring for the Bluejays with a two-run single. Sturino added a run-scoring single and Cannella drove in a run on a ground out to pull Elmhurst even.
 
Elmhurst put the game away in the bottom of the seventh. Sturino led off the inning with a single and Val Perrelli followed with a double to left to move Sturnio to third. Cannella singled up the middle to drive in the game-winning run.
 
Melone finished 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and six driven in. Rismondo finished 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored. Sturino, Getzloff and Cannella added two hits apiece in the victory for the Bluejays.

Emily Despain made the start, exited the contest in the middle frames, and then reentered to pick up the victory. She allowed three hits and three runs. She walked four and fanned three.
 
Elmhurst hosts Augustana College on Wednesday, April 19.