FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
KENOSHA, Wis. (Apr. 28, 2009) - The North Central College baseball team stood toe-to-toe with the 13th-ranked NCAA Division III team in the nation on Tuesday, coming within a few key plays of two upsets of Carthage College. The Cardinals lost a 1-0, 10-inning decision in the opening game of the double header against the Red Men before an 8-6 setback in the nightcap.
Tuesday's first game was a pitcher's duel between Carthage starter Trace Ruffie and North Central ace
Mike Kloss, as each pitched nine shutout innings. Kloss struck out eight batters while walking just two and scattering seven hits, while Ruffie permitted three hits and three walks and struck out six.
The Red Men's first two batters of the 10th inning drew walks to set the stage for a game-winning hit, which came in the form of an RBI single by catcher Mark Sobol. North Central reliever
Mike Charles was tagged with the loss (0-2).
Carthage (25-5, 14-1 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) took advantage of some pitching struggles on the part of the Cardinals to string together eight fourth-inning runs in the second game. The hosts needed just three hits to do so, benefiting from five walks, a hit batter, and an error.
North Central got itself back into the game in the fifth, pounding out six hits to score five runs.
Steve Hlavac grounded out to drive in the first run before
Michael Corrigan singled in a run and later scored on an error.
Dustin Gilbreth followed with a two-run single with two outs.
The Cardinals tacked on a run in the eighth when
Nick Robinson singled to score
Matt Burke, who had reached with a one-out double. North Central had a runner aboard in the ninth before Carthage ended the game with a double play.
Matt Abraham went 3 for 5 at the plate for the Cardinals (8-19, 6-10 CCIW), while Burke was 2 for 3 with two runs scored.
Michael McGrath pitched the first 3 1/3 innings and got the loss (0-1).
North Central hosts the Red Men in the final game of the series on Wednesday at Zimmerman Stadium. Play is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
