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

Box Score

Apr. 14, 2010 - A six-game winning streak came to an end for the North Central College baseball team on Wednesday, as Millikin University rode a pair of big innings to a 16-13 victory over the Cardinals at Zimmerman Stadium.

North Central (18-4, 7-2 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) negated an early 9-2 deficit and went into the ninth inning tied, but the Big Blue had one more rally in store and scored four runs in the final frame.

Joe Turek opened the scoring in the home half of the second inning, putting a charge into the first pitch he saw and propelling a two-run home run over the left-center field fence. The 2-0 lead was short-lived, however, as Millikin took advantage of four walks and three errors to score nine third-inning runs despite recording just three hits.

The Cardinals got three runs back in the third, as Peter Romanello scored on an error, Matt Abraham drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and Michael Corrigan delivered an RBI double. North Central regained the lead after a five-run fourth inning, as Abraham drew a bases-loaded walk and Corrigan contributed an RBI groundout before Turek got into the act again, hammering a three-run homer to left field and putting the hosts in front, 10-9.

Millikin loaded the bases with one out in the fifth and scored on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly to pull ahead, 11-10, then benefited from three consecutive walks to extend  its lead to 12-10 in the seventh. The Cardinals staged a two-out rally in the eighth, which was extended by a passed ball that allowed Turek to reach base safely despite striking out. Andrew Wulbecker's single to left field brought home two runs, tying the contest at 12-12.

Five hits, including three doubles, aided Millikin in pushing four runs across the plate in the ninth. Another North Central comeback attempt in the bottom of the inning yielded just one run on a groundout by Dan Scott.

Romanello went 3 for 3 with two walks and three runs scored, while Nick Robinson was 3 for 6 with two runs. The Cardinals sent nine pitchers to the mound during the game. Ricky Foytik pitched the ninth and was tagged with the loss (1-1).

North Central hosts Carthage College on Saturday in a CCIW double header. Play is scheduled to begin at noon.