The North Central (Ill.) softball team defeated Penn Behrend 5-0 in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Regional Tournament hosted by Trine University on Friday afternoon.
The Cardinals used two hits to score four runs in the fifth inning to break open a 1-0 game. After three scoreless innings, Sarah Lynch hit a triple and scored on a single by J. Smith for the eventual game winner. Lynch tallied a pair of hits for North Central, smacking a double and a triple. There was a combined eight hits on the day, four by each team. Behrend had its best scoring opportunity in the top of the first with two hits and two runners on, but a lineout stranded both runners on base. Ashleigh Schmidt started in the circle, pitching 4.1 innings before getting relieved by Kayla Lindberg. Schmidt gave up two hits and four runs, while registering a double for the Lions. Gianna Corban picked up the win, coming in relief and pitching 5.1 innings and striking out nine
The Lions return to action tomorrow in the elimination game against Wisconsin Eau-Claire. Game time is 2:30 p.m.