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Box Score

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (Mar. 24, 2010) - With a seven-run third inning providing the difference, the North Central College baseball team closed out its Spring Break trip with a fifth straight win Wednesday, defeating Hamilton College (N.Y.), 13-6.

The Cardinals (7-1), who outscored their opponents, 53-14, in their six Spring Break games, are on their first five-game winning streak since 2007.

North Central first got on the board in the second inning, as Michael Corrigan led off with a double and scored when Matt Burke tripled to right center. Three of Hamilton's first four batters recorded hits in the third, leading to a pair of runs and a 2-1 advantage.

The Cardinals broke the game open in the bottom of the third, as the first six batters reached base safely. With the bases loaded, Matt Abraham singled to drive in the first run of the rally and Corrigan followed with a walk to put North Central back in the lead. Joe Turek came through with another RBI single before Abraham scored on a fielder's choice. Burke added an RBI single and later scored on a double by Andrew Wulbecker, who scoerd the final run of the inning on Peter Romanello's base hit.

After slicing up the Continentals with base hits in the third, North Central made use of the long ball in the fourth to score three more runs. Corrigan hit a solo home run to left field with one out, and Brennan Hagensee delivered a two-run dinger to left to provide the Cardinals with an 11-4 advantage.

North Central's final two runs came in the fifth, getting an RBI groundout from Dan Scott and a sacrifice fly from Abraham.

Corrigan went 3 for 3 with three runs scored, while #Nick Robinson was 3 for 4 at the plate with two runs. In recording 17 hits, the Cardinals showed excellent discipline at the plate, drawing six walks while striking out only once.

Aaron Kovac pitched the first 3 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out seven. Kevin Krajewski pitched 2 1/3 innings of relief to get the win (1-0), giving up just one unearned run and two hits while striking out three.

The Cardinals open the home portion of their schedule on Saturday, hosting Carroll College (Wis.) in a double header at Zimmerman Stadium. Play is scheduled to begin at noon.