ALMA, Mich. (May 14, 2005) -- The Edgewood College softball team's season came to an end on Saturday with a 2-0 loss to North Central College (36-11) in the first round of the NCAA Division III Softball Championships.

As a result, the Eagles (30-14) were eliminated from the five-team Alma Regional. Edgewood, the No. 4 seed, knocked off No. 5 Allegheny College, 5-1, in the opening game on Friday before falling to top-seeded Aurora University later in the day.

Jessica Siegel hurled a three-hit shutout for the Cardinals, who will face Aurora University in a semi-final game at 11 a.m. (EST) on Sunday, May 15.

With two outs in the bottom of the third inning, North Central's Michelle Lewandowski scored the go-ahead and eventually game-winning run on a single by Jackie Nelson that was misplayed in the outfield. The Cardinals added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Katie Koester scored on a fielder's choice.

Sophomore Brittany Butcher (St. Charles, Ill.) went six complete innings in the pitcher's circle for the Eagles. Butcher gave up six hits and one earned run while striking out three.

Playing their last game in an Eagle uniform were seniors Christine Kohlman (Prairie du Sac, Wis.) and Katie Hensgen (Waunakee, Wis.). Kohlman and Hensgen were among nine returning players on the 2005 roster that helped Edgewood earn its first-ever NCAA berth in 2004.