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

Box Score

Apr. 3, 2010 - In control of all facets of the game virtually from the outset, the North Central College baseball team closed out its first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin series victory in decisive fashion Saturday, cruising past North Park University, 11-1, at Zimmerman Stadium.

The Cardinals scored early and often against the visitors and got a sterling pitching performance from Nate Arenson to improve to 2-1 in conference play and 13-3 overall.

After stranding two baserunners in the first inning, the Cardinals got on the board in the second when Brennan Hagensee scored on an error. Andrew Wulbecker then stepped to the plate with two men on and clubbed his first home run of the season to left-center field, expanding North Central's advantage to 4-0.

A single by Joe Turek and a double by Matt Burke set the table for more production in the third inning, and the Vikings took care of the rest as Turek scored on a balk and Burke crossed the plate on an error. North Park (12-7, 1-2 CCIW) got on the board with an unearned run in the fifth, but Wulbecker countered with an RBI single in the home half of the inning to restore North Central's six-run advantage.

The end came in the seventh, when the Cardinals ripped six straight hits to score four runs and end the game due to the 10-run rule. Steve Hlavac came on as a pinch hitter and started the rally with a double, followed by another two-bagger by Turek, a single by Burke, a double by Wulbecker, and singles by Peter Romanello and Nick Robinson.

Robinson was a perfect 4 for 4 at the plate, boosting his season batting average to a team-best .492, while Turek went 3 for 3 with four runs scored and Wulbecker went 3 for 4 with five runs driven in.

Arenson pitched all seven innings and improved to 4-0 on the season, scattering seven hits while striking out two and walking one.

The Cardinals return to action Tuesday, traveling to Millikin University for a CCIW double header. Play is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.