Millikin University’s women’s softball team lost to North Central College, 10-9, in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament at Inspiration Field on May 8.
The game was marked by a strong comeback attempt from Millikin after falling behind early. The loss ends Millikin’s run in the conference tournament.
North Central started the game with an eight-run first inning, powered by six hits and runs batted in from Lauren Bowmar, Emma Herder, Bailey Miller, and Gwen Shouse. Despite this early setback, Millikin responded quickly. In the second inning, Brianna Denault and Emily Kobel reached base before Ann Marie Meek hit a two-RBI single to center field.
Millikin continued to chip away at the deficit in the third inning with Abbey Matthews singling to start things off. Denault hit an RBI double followed by another RBI double from Ava Zukowski and an RBI single from Abby Willis that brought Millikin within three runs at 8-5. North Central added another run in their half of the third inning but could not pull away completely as Millikin kept up offensive pressure throughout.
Willis led Millikin with two hits, three RBIs, and two walks while Summer Wynn had two hits and four RBIs. Denault contributed a double, one RBI, and scored twice; Zukowski had two hits including an RBI double; Kobel reached base four times with a hit and three walks.
Entering the seventh inning trailing 9-5, Millikin mounted one last rally as Bella Palermo singled before Zukowski and Kobel loaded the bases. Willis drove home two runs with a single followed by Wynn’s two-run double which brought them within one run at 9-8. However, North Central secured their win when Bailey Miller delivered an RBI single in the bottom half of the seventh for a final score of 10-9.
