Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Augustana could generate just nine hits in 14 innings of pitching against North Central on Saturday, April 28 and ended up dropping a College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin double header to the Cardinals. North Central came back from a 3-0 deficit in the first game and won 7-3 while the Cardinals won a 2-1 pitcher's duel in game two.
 
The Vikings are now 21-15 overall and 6-8 in the CCIW while North Central moved to 28-6 and 12-4 in league play.
 
GAME #1
 
North Central overcame a 3-0 deficit by scoring seven runs in the final four innings and posting a 7-3 victory over Augustana in the first game of a CCIW double header under sun-splashed skies at Carver Field.
 
The Vikings put three runs on the board in the bottom of the second inning off Cardinal starter Sarah Esposito. Junior second baseman Haley Ruch (Lincoln-Way North HS, Frankfort, Ill.) led off with a walk and junior left-fielder Clare Kramer (Prophetstown HS, Lyndon, Ill.) singled her to second. After a failed sacrifice attempt junior catcher Kelsey Heiland (Mountain Vista HS, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) singled to load the bases. An error on a ball hit by senior third baseman Lauren Severson (Morris HS, Morris, Ill.) plated Ruch with the first run and left the bases loaded. Sophomore centerfielder Dina Falk (Lake Park HS, Bloomingdale, Ill.) lined a single over the left fielder's head to drive home Kramer and Heiland to make it 3-0.
 
That would be it for the Vikings offensively, however, as Esposito allowed just one hit the rest of the way and retired the final 13 batters she faced.
 
She gave her offense time to regroup and the Cardinals chipped away against Augustana starter Kelcie Fredrickson (Fisher HS, Foosland, Ill.). They scored one unearned run in the fourth and two in the fifth on a towering home run by Samantha Phelps. That tied the game 3-3.
 
Heading into the top of the sixth Viking head coach Kris Kistler went to her bullpen and called on freshman Hope Moos (Hartsburg-Emden HS, Hartsburg, Ill.). Moos gave up a pair of unearned runs as her defense committed a pair of errors and North Central went ahead 5-3.
 
In the top of sixth Cardinal catcher Jamie Smith touched Moos for a solo home run to make it 6-3 and Fredrickson came back into the game on the mound. Fredrickson allowed the seventh run of the game to account for the final score.
 
The Vikings only got five hits off Esposito and those all came in the first three innings.
 
GAME #2
 
A pitcher's duel was the big story in the second game as North Central used a pair of third inning runs to take a 2-1 victory and sweep the double header. Viking freshman Cecelia Peine (Wentzville Holt HS, Wentzville, Mo.) and the Cardinals Jennifer Yager hooked up in a dandy.
 
Both pitchers went the distance with Peine allowing six hits with three strikeouts and no walks. She took the loss and fell to 6-7 on the year. Yager gave up just four hits in her seven innings and walked two and struck out one as she moved to 11-2 this season.
 
The Vikings scored first with a single run in the second inning. Kramer walked and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on a fly ball to right field. She scored on a ringing double off the bat of sophomore Brittany Pospishil (Lincoln-Way East HS, Mokena, Ill.).
 
That lead proved to be short-lived, however, as North Central strung four singles together after two were out to score the two runs that ended up being the margin in the game.