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

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

Apr. 18, 2009 - The North Central College baseball team improved to 4-4 at home and posted its first double header sweep of the season on Saturday, defeating Millikin University, 8-6 and 11-3, in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin action at Zimmerman Stadium.

The Cardinals (7-16, 6-8 CCIW) will attempt to close out a six-game homestand with a third straight victory over the Big Blue on Sunday.

Saturday's first game was scoreless until the hosts erupted for six runs in the third inning. Steve Hlavac drove in a run with a single to open the scoring, and Joe Turek followed with a two-run home run to left-center field, his team-leading fifth of the season. Matt Burke added an RBI single then stole second base, allowing Joe Heller to score from third. Dustin Gilbreth tacked on a run-scoring base hit as well.

Millikin (9-16, 3-10) climbed back into contention with four runs in the next three innings, but the Cardinals crossed the plate twice in the sixth on a single by Turek to stay clear of the visitors. The Big Blue made a last-ditch effort to tie the score in the ninth, scoring twice, but left the tying run on first base.

Turek went 3 for 5 in the opener, while Hlavac was 2 for 5. Mike Kloss pitched all nine innings to earn the victory (4-1), allowing six runs on 10 hits while striking out five and walking four.

The hosts used another big inning to jump in front early in the second game, scoring four runs in he second. Peter Romanello singled in a run, Dan Scott provided a two-run double, and Michael Corrigan brought the fourth run home with a groundout. The Big Blue scored twice in the third, but North Central countered with an RBI double by Corrigan in the fourth.

The Cardinals tacked on three runs in the fifth, scoring on a single by Heller and a groundout by Romanello before Heller came home on a passed ball. Three more runs in the eighth helped pad North Central's advantage, as Burke's single, Romanello's groundout, and Scott's base hit all yielded runs.

Heller was a perfect 3 for 3 with three runs scored in the nightcap, while Scott batted 3 for 5. Nate Arenson pitched three scoreless innings of relief to earn his first victory of the season (1-0).

Sunday's series finale is scheduled to begin at noon.