NAPERVILLE, Ill. – The Elmhurst University softball team suffered a pair of CCIW losses at North Central College. The Bluejays fell 1-0 in game one before dropping game two 7-0.
 
NORTH CENTRAL 1, ELMHURST 0 (Game One) – Elmhurst lost a narrow 1-0 decision in a pitcher's dual between the Sydni Gizynski and North Central's Gianna Corban.
 
North Central scored its run in the second inning after an Elmhurst error extended the inning. Allison Lambert doubled home a run to put the Cardinals on the scoreboard at 1-0.
 
Elmhurst had just one hit through the first four innings, but the Bluejays threatened in the fifth and sixth innings. Paige Pehlke led off the inning walk. Pinch runner Julia Noga moved to second with one out on a ground ball, but a ground out and a strike out ended Elmhurst's fifth inning. Madison Spencer led off the sixth inning with her second single of the contest. An error on North Central put runners on the corners for Elmhurst with no outs, but Corban fanned the next three batters to get out of the inning.
 
Elmhurst put a runner on in the seventh, but a strikeout ended the contest and preserved the win for North Central.
 
Spencer recorded two of Elmhurst's three hits in the loss.
 
Gizynski pitched well but suffered the loss. She worked six innings allowing jus four hits and two walks. She struck out three while not allowing an earned run. Corban went the distance for the Cardinals, scattering three hits and two walks while striking out 11.
 
NORTH CENTRAL 7, ELMHURST 0 (Game Two) – North Central scored a run in the fourth and fifth innings and then broke things open late with five runs over the final two innings to come away with a 7-0 victory in game two.
 
An Elmhurst throwing error in the fourth inning allowed the Cardinals to score their first run. A two out, RBI single from Sarah Lynch extended the Cardinals' lead to 2-0 in the fifth.
 
North Central scored three runs with two outs in the sixth inning, scoring two runs on a passed ball and wild pitch. They tacked on two runs in the seventh to earn the 7-0 win.
 
Jackie Orel recorded the Bluejays' only hit in the loss.
 
Chiara O'Leary suffered the loss from the circle, pitching 5.2 inning and allowing eight hits and just two earned runs. She walked two and fanned three. Breanna Adams earned the win for North Central, pitching a complete game shutout and allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out eight.
 
Elmhurst plays at MSOE on Friday, April 22.