FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Box Score

Apr. 11, 2009 - After two close games at Elmhurst College on Friday, the North Central College baseball team entered Saturday's contest against the Bluejays with no intention of dealing with any more drama, jumping ahead early and routing its guests, 20-8, at Zimmerman Stadium.

The Cardinals (5-14, 4-7 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) erupted for 10 runs in the first inning of play, scored in every inning, and and had each player in their offensive lineup cross the plate at least once.

Elmhurst (11-13, 3-9 CCIW) took the first lead of the game, as third baseman Zach Hofer hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. North Central put its stamp on the contest by piling up run after run in the bottom of the first, beginning with Michael Corrigan's RBI single. The Cardinals pulled in front on a three-run homer by Andrew Wulbecker before Matt Burke drove in a run with a base hit, Joe Heller scored on an error, and Dan Scott singled in a run and scored on an error, with Dustin Gilbreth scoring on the same play. Wulbecker added his fourth RBI of the inning with a single to bring in the 10th and final run of the inning.

The Bluejays climbed back into contention with a five-run second inning, as second baseman Brett Lilley hit a two-run homer and right fielder Nick Herrera added a three-run bomb. The hosts managed to tack on three runs in the home half of the second on an RBI groundout by Peter Romanello and a two-run single by Steve Hlavac. The visitors plated an unearned run in the third, which was countered by Burke's run-scoring single.

Wulbecker doubled to drive in the Cardinals' two runs in the fourth inning. Scott and Hlavac each delivered RBI singles in the fifth, and the hosts' scoring was completed in the sixth when Adam Dobrez scored on an error and Romanello came through with a sacrifice fly.

Burke and Dobrez each went 3 for 4 at the plate, while Wulbecker went 3 for 5 with six runs batted in and Hlavac finished 3 for 6. Ben Mottashed was credited with the win, pitching a scoreless fifth inning. Mottashed and fellow relievers Joe Longawa and Nate Arenson limited Elmhurst to just one unearned run on four hits in the final five innings.

The game was the first in a seven-game homestand for North Central, which hosts Illinois Wesleyan University on Tuesday at 3 p.m.