The Big Blue softball team traveled to Naperville, Ill. on Saturday, April 25 for a doubleheader with the Cardinals of North Central College. Millikin split, falling in the first game 5-7 before winning game two 7-5. 

In game one, the Big Blue scored first when Kailyn Coates was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, bringing home Ann Marie Meek. After the Cardinals plated three runs, a Summer Wynn solo home run in the third cut the deficit to 2-3 in the third. 

North Central added three more runs in the third inning, but the Big Blue chipped away in the fifth with a sacrifice fly by Wynn that scored Willis. 

An NCC solo home run by Bailey Miller extended the Cardinals lead to 3-7 in the fifth. Coates hit a two-run home run in the seventh to score herself and Willan, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit. 

Wynn went 2-for-3 in game one from the plate. 

The Big Blue rebounded to win game two 7-5. A Wynn single in the first inning scored Condill to put Millikin up 1-0. The Cardinals knotted the score with an infield single in the second. 

The Millikin offense got back to work in the third, scoring twice on singles by Willis and Willan. In the bottom of the inning, the Cardinals took a 3-5 lead. 

In the seventh, a Willis triple scored Condill and Ava Zukowski. Then, Wynn hit a sacrifice fly to plate Willis. Willan's single to center scored the seventh run. 

Willis was 3-for-4 at the plate in game two, and Condill and Wynn each went 2-for-3. 

Abby Wilken was the winner in the circle in game one, striking out two in the victory. 

The Big Blue will meet the Pioneers of Carroll University on Sunday, April 26 at the Workman Family Softball Field for a CCIW doubleheader beginning at 1:00 PM.