FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Highlight Video
May 2, 2009 - The North Central College baseball team was eliminated from contention for a spot in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Tournament on Saturday, as the Cardinals split a CCIW double header against North Park University at Zimmerman Stadium.
The Cardinals took the first game, 9-6, before a 12-10 loss in the nightcap put them out of reach of the fourth and final qualifying spot in the tournament.
North Central (9-22, 7-12 CCIW) fell behind, 2-0, after a pair of unearned runs crossed the plate in the first inning of the opener.
Matt Abraham's double in the fourth inning drove in the Cardinals' first run of the day, although the Vikings tallied another unearned run in the fifth.
The hosts picked up two runs in the sixth, as
Andrew Wulbecker scored on an error and
Joe Heller swiped home plate on a double steal, to tie the contest at 3-3, but North Park outfielder Andy Athans blasted a two-run home run to left field in the seventh to nudge the visitors into the lead once again, 5-3.
A two-run double by
Joe Turek knotted the contest at 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh, and the Cardinals took their first lead of the game in the eighth, tallying four runs. Pinch hitter
Adam Dobrez sent a base hit through the right side to score the first run of the rally,
Michael Corrigan scored on an error, and Abraham laced another double into center field to plate two runs. North Park's attempt at a two-out rally in the ninth produced just one run.
Wulbecker went 3 for 4 at the plate for the Cardinals, while Turek was 2 for 3 with two doubles.
Nate Arenson pitched the first six innings, allowing just one earned run on eight hits, while
Joseph Gaza pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on two hits, to get the win (1-0).
Tyler Herman recorded the final out to pick up the save.
The Vikings (17-20, 7-13 CCIW) exploded for five runs in the top of the first inning of Saturday's second game to take a commanding 5-0 advantage, but North Central countered with four runs of its own in the bottom of the inning to get back into contention. Corrigan brought home the first run with a single, and Wulbecker followed with a three-run homer to left field.
Turek singled in a run in the second inning to tie the game, and Heller followed with a bases-loaded walk to give the Cardinals a 6-5 advantage. North Park moved back in front with three third-inning runs, but North Central tied the game with an RBI double by Heller and a single by
Dan Scott in the fourth.
Each team tallied runs in both the fifth and sixth innings, as Burke drew a walk with the bases loaded in the fifth and Corrigan delivered another RBI single to counter two Viking runs.
The Vikings took advantage of a two-out error in the seventh inning and scored two unearned runs to pull in front for good.
Corrigan and Wulbecker each went 3 for 5 in the second game, and Scott scored three runs.
Loukas Kalliantasis took the loss, allowing one earned run on five hits in one inning of relief work.
The Cardinals travel to North Park for the third and final game in the series on Sunday. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
