ANGOLA, Ind.– The North Central (Ill.) softball team defeated Penn Behrend 5-0 in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Regional Tournament hosted by Trine on Friday afternoon.

Score: North Central 5, Penn State Behrend 0
Records: Penn State Behrend (23-14), North Central (26-11)

Noteworthy:

* The Cardinals used two hits to score four runs in the fifth inning to break open a 1-0 game
* After three scoreless innings, Lynch hit a triple and scored on a single by J. Smith for the eventual game winner
* Sarah 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 with two hits and two runners on
* Ashleigh Schmidt (Sarver, PA/Freeport) started in the circle, pitching 4.1 innings before getting relieved by Kayla Lindberg (Austinburg, OH/Geneva)
* 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 

Next Up: 
 
* The Lions return to action tomorrow in the elimination game against Wisconsin Eau-Claire. Game time is 2:30 p.m.