ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst University softball team split a doubleheader with North Park University at Salt Creek Park. The Bluejays scored a 5-0 victory in game one before falling 6-4 in the night cap.
ELMHURST 5, NORTH PARK 0 (Game One) – Timely hitting and a strong pitching performance from
Sydni Gizynski helped Elmhurst shutout North Park 5-0 in the opening game of the doubleheader.
Elmhurst scored three of its runs with two outs and Gizynski went the distance, pitching her second complete game shutout of the season.
North Park threatened early, loading the bases in the top of the first, but Gizynski induced Rachael Feazelle to hit into a 1-2-3 inning-ending double play.
Elmhurst jumped on the scoreboard quickly, plating a run in the bottom of the first on a two-out RBI single from
Julia Noga. The Bluejays doubled their lead in the second as
Reese Coon delivered a two-out RBI single back up the middle to drive in
Alana Batista.
Elmhurst took advantage of a North Park mistake in the fourth of score three runs and open up a 5-0 lead. An error on the Vikings put runners on the corners with just one out for Elmhurst.
Reese Coon singled home a run to extend Elmhurst's lead to three.
Chiara O'Leary drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and
Jamie Haas doubled home a run to give the Bluejays a five-run cushion.
Coon collected two of Elmhurst's six hits on the day and knocked two of the team's five runs.
Gizynski tossed her fourth consecutive complete game, allowing just three hits and three walks over seven innings while striking out three. She had allowed just one earned run over her last four starts spanning 27 innings at the time.
NORTH PARK 6, ELMHURST 4 (Game Two) – North Park rallied from a 4-3 deficit by scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth to come away with the 6-4 victory.
North Park jumped out quickly, scoring three times in the bottom of the first. RBI singles from Alyssa Aragon and Rachael Feazelle bookended around a sacrifice fly from Alyssa Malicki gave the Vikings an early three-run cushion.
Elmhurst answered back with four runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead, cashing in on a two-out North Park error. With two on and one out, O'Leary singled home a run to put the Bluejays on the scoreboard. With runners at first and second with two outs, a deep fly ball off the bat of Batista bounced off a North Park glove allowing the tying runs to score and Batista to reach second.
Amaya Chavez then roped a single to right to drive in Batista and give the Bluejays their first lead of the game.
Elmhurst held the one-run lead into the sixth inning when North Park broke through for three runs. After a one out walk, an Elmhurst error gave the Vikings runners at first and second. A walk loaded the bases and Aragon put the Vikings in front with a two-run single to right. Malicki followed with an RBI single to extend North Park's lead to 6-4.
Elmhurst put the leadoff batter on base in the seventh, but a double play ended the contest and sealed the win for North Park.
Gizynski made the start from the circle again and took a no-decision, allowing three hits and three runs over 3.2 innings. She walked three and fanned three.
Jena Hicks took the loss in relief, allowing three hits and two earned runs over 2.1 innings of work. Malicki earned the win for the Vikings, pitching a complete game while scattering five hits and a walk and fanning five.
Elmhurst hosts Illinois Wesleyan University on Saturday, April 30.
