CHICAGO, Ill. - The Elmhurst softball team split a CCIW doubleheader at North Park University as the two games lasted over six hours and a combined 19 innings. The Bluejays fell 1-0 in 10 innings in game one before scoring an 8-7 walkoff win in the ninth inning in game two.
Elmhurst moved to 8-21 overall and 2-12 in the CCIW with the split.
NORTH PARK 1, ELMHURST 0 (Game One) - Elmhurst outhit North Park 8-7 but the Bluejays stranded 10 runners on base as North Park scored a 1-0 win in 10 innings.
Elmhurst had scoring chances throughout the game, but the Bluejays finished 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
North Park stranded five runners over the first nine innings before finally breaking through in the 10th. Erin Penn led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a Atorena Michael walkoff single.
Mia Tran and
Veronica Zahn delivered two hits apiece for Elmhurst in the loss.
Sydni Gizynski took the loss for Elmhurst despite allowing just one run and seven hits over 9.1 innings of work. She struck out one while not issuing a walk. Hayley Jackson picked up the win for the Vikings, throwing all 10 innings and allowing just eight hits and one walk while striking out seven.
ELMHURST 8, NORTH PARK 7 (Game Two) - A walkoff single from
Mia Tran lifted Elmhurst to an 8-7 win in nine innings.
Elmhurst jumped out to a 6-1 lead after posting six runs in the bottom of the third. An RBI single from
Mia Riese started the scoring. An error on North Park allowed another Elmhurst run and
Rebekah Ondracek doubled home two to stake Elmhurst to a 4-0 lead. Elizabeth DiNuzzo drove in a run on a ground out and
Jenna Geraci added an RBI single to cap Elmhurst's big inning.
North Park scored a run in the fifth before a rain delay lasting over 1:20 brough the game to a halt. North Park surged back after the delay, posting five runs in the sixth to open up a 7-6 lead. Elmhurst tied the game in the ninth on a sacrifice fly from Riese.
The Bluejays earned the win in the ninth after three straight one-out singles. After a strikeout, Tran deliviered a walk-off single to left drive in the winning run and give Elmhurst the win.
Tran and
Rebekah Ondracek led the Bluejays at the plate, combinging for eight hits, four runs and three RBIs. Tran finished 4-for-6 with two runs scored an an RBI while Ondracek finished 4-for-6 with two runs driven in and two runs scored.
Alexis Ramos added three hits for the Bluejays.
Bailee Krantz made the start for Elmhurst and took a no-decision, working five innings and allowing five hits and two runs. She walked two while striking out four. Gizynski picked up her first win of the season in relief, tossing 3.1 innings and allowing just two hits and one walk.
Elmhurst plays at Wheaton College on Thursday, April 25.
