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Box Score

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (Apr. 23, 2010) - A close game was rendered a blowout by a ninth-inning rally from the North Central College baseball team on Friday, as the Cardinals scored five runs in the final frame to storm away from the Wheaton College Thunder, 11-3, at Alexian Field.

North Central, ranked 30th in this week's American Baseball Coaches Association NCAA Division III Top 30 Poll, improved to 7-1 in away games, 10-3 in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play, and 22-5 overall with the victory.

The Cardinals took advantage of some Wheaton fielding miscues to plate a run in the first inning, as Dan Scott reached on an error and advanced to third on another before scoring on Matt Abraham's sacrifice fly. Wheaton loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the inning, but North Central pitcher Mike Kloss got two strikeouts and a flyout to keep the hosts off the board.

The Thunder (20-10, 7-6 CCIW) did hammer out four hits in the bottom of the second, scoring twice to move in front for the first time. North Central, however, rallied quickly and scored two more runs in the top of the third. Matt Burke and Peter Romanello led off the inning with a single and a walk, respectively, then got an RBI single by Nick Robinson and another sacrifice fly from Abraham to take a 3-2 lead.

Burke drove in a run with a single in the fourth inning, then scored on a fielder's choice in the seventh to extend the visitors' advantage to 5-2. A two-out triple by Wheaton's Danny Pyne narrowed the gap to 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh, but an RBI single by Joe Turek restored the Cardinals' three-run advantage heading into the final inning.

Andrew Wulbecker was hit by a pitch and Burke singled to open the ninth inning, and Romanello sacrificed the runners over before Robinson was intentionally walked to ensure a force-out at any base. Dan Scott rendered Wheaton's strategy useless on the following at bat, ripping a three-run triple to right-center field and doubling North Central's lead to 9-3. Turek added a two-run double to right field with two outs.

Burke was a perfect 4 for 4 at the plate with three runs scored, while Turek was 3 for 5 with three RBI and Scott was 2 for 4 with three RBI and three runs. Mike Kloss was credited with the win on the mound (5-1), scattering three runs on eight hits in seven innings. He struck out 10 and walked four. Kevin Krajewski pitched two scoreless innings of relief and earned his third save of the year.

The Cardinals host Wheaton in a double header on Saturday at Zimmerman Stadium, beginning at noon.