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Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

FRANKLIN, Ind. (Mar. 7, 2009) – The North Central College baseball team put together 27 runs in its season-opening double header at Franklin College on Saturday, but it was not enough to translate into any wins, as the host Grizzlies came out on the winning end of two slugfests, 16-15 and 23-12, at McDowell Field.

The Cardinals (0-2) rapped out 34 hits in the two games but were undone by a total of 10 errors, which translated into 14 unearned runs scored by Franklin.

The Grizzlies (4-2) bolted to a 5-0 lead in the first game of the day before an eight-run fourth inning put North Central ahead. A two-run single by Adam Dobrez opened the scoring, and was followed by an RBI single by Steve Hlavac, who later scored on a wild pitch. Nick Robinson followed with an RBI base hit of his own before Joe Turek belted a three-run home run to left-center field.

The Grizzlies countered with seven unanswered runs in the next two innings, rebuilding its lead to 12-8 heading into the top of the sixth. North Central manufactured a four-run rally in the sixth frame, tying the game at 12-12. A triple to center field by Robinson brought home the first run of the inning, and he scored the second run, coming home on a wild pitch. Matt Abraham drove home a run with a single before Dobrez scored on a balk after reaching on a single.

The score remained deadlocked at 12-12 heading into the eighth inning of a scheduled seven-inning game. The Cardinals pulled ahead with a three-run rally in the visitors' half of the frame, as Abraham doubled and was brought home by another two-bagger by Hlavac before Joe Heller sent a two-run homer over the center field fence. North Central went into the bottom of the eighth inning three outs away from a victory.

Franklin, however, came through with four runs to pull out the victory, aided by a pair of Cardinal errors and a three-run homer by outfielder Matt Zmich. The winning run was scored on a single by outfielder Lance Noel with no outs.

Turek finished the game 3 for 4 at the plate, while Abraham was 3 for 5. Jeremiah Torres pitched the first four innings, allowing seven runs (four earned) on six hits while striking out three and walking two. Tyler Herman took the loss, allowing one run on three hits in the eighth.

Franklin also staked itself to an early lead in the nightcap, pulling ahead, 4-0, after the first three innings. A three-run fourth inning brought the Cardinals back into contention, as Dobrez and Michael Corrigan each scored on errors and Justin Moriarty singled home a run.

After watching the Grizzlies get two runs back in the bottom of the fourth, North Central tacked on three additional runs in the fifth to tie the game at 6-6. Corrigan sent a single up the middle to drive home the first run, and Moriarty's base hit to center plated two more runs.

Franklin, however, erupted for nine runs in the bottom of the fifth to pull in front for good. A five-run rally, including three home runs, in the sixth inning helped keep North Central close, as Matt Burke led off with a home run and Turek added a two-run bomb before Corrigan clubbed another solo shot. Moriarty added an RBI double before the inning was over.

The Grizzlies slammed the door on their visitors with eight runs in the next three innings, taking advantage of three North Central errors during that span. Corrigan tacked on a run with an RBI single in the ninth inning.

Corrigan went 4 for 6 at the plate for North Central, while Burke went 3 for 4 and Moriarty was 3 for 5. Kevin Krajewski drew the start and took the loss, allowing eight runs on seven hits in four innings.

The Cardinals take on Franklin in two more games on Sunday, beginning at noon Eastern time.