BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Elmhurst University softball team ended their 2023 season with an eight inning, 1-3 defeat to North Park in the quarterfinal round of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Softball Tournament.

Elmhurst (15-21, 6-10 CCIW) led for 6.2 innings of the game, plating a run in the second and holding on to the 1-0 lead before a solo home run from North Park (17-19-1) with two outs in the seventh inning sent the game to extra innings. A walk-off, two-run home run in the eighth inning followed, allowing North Park to advance in the CCIW Tournament and ending the Bluejays' season.

Bailey Proffitt knocked in the lone run for Elmhurst with a single down the left-field line, her lone hit on the afternoon. Chiara O'Leary was stellar in the circle, allowing just six hits and shutting down the Vikings offense for the majority of the game. However, all three Viking runs came earned against the sophomore pitcher, giving O'Leary the loss to drop to 6-9 on the season.

Elmhurst wraps up the 2023 season with a 15-21 overall record, and a 6-10 mark in CCIW play. The Bluejays made the postseason for the first time in a full season since 2012, and improved their win total by five from the 2022 season.