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Box Score

GREENCASTLE, Ind. (May 14, 2010)-- A two-run rally in the seventh inning proved to be the difference-maker as fourth-seeded North Central College was unable to pull off the upset of top-seeded Ohio Northern University, falling 4-3 in the second day of the double elimination NCAA Division III Softball Championships hosted by DePauw University.

Fifth-ranked Ohio Northern (39-5) opened up the scoring in the top of the first as lead off hitter Mandi Fought reached base on a walk, later scoring on an illegal pitch. 22nd-ranked North Central (32-13) countered in the bottom of the frame, plating two runs off a Laura Whitfield home run blast. Mary Caron led off with a double to left center before coming home after Whitfield belted the ball over the center field fence, her 13th career home run, moving her in a three-way tie for first place on North Central's career home run list.

Back-to-back singles followed back-to-back walks as the Polar Bears knotted the score at two in the top of the third. The Cardinals retook the lead in the fourth on an RBI single by Alyssa Rabulinski, scoring Kelli Lofgren who reached base by drawing a walk.

The Polar Bears seized the lead for good in the top of the seventh, scoring a pair of runs off sacrifice flies. Fought led off the inning with a single, advancing to third on a Jackie Mangola double before scoring on a Kimi Blewett sacrifice fly to center field. Jackie Mangola advanced to third on a throwing error before scoring the go-ahead run off of Tina Mangola's sacrifice fly to center field.

Pappa and Caron each collected a pair of hits to power the Cardinal offense, finishing two-for-three and two-for-four, respectively.

Brianna Nelson (4-1) suffered her first loss of the season in the circle, striking out one and walking four in the complete game effort. Her counterpart, Maggie Molnar (13-0) remained perfect on the year, tossing the final three innings in relief of Cortney Cash, allowing just two hits and no runs.

North Central will face Washington University in Saint Louis on Saturday at 9 a.m. in an elimination game.