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

Box Score

May 2, 2010 - Ninth-inning heroics have not been necessary very often for the North Central College baseball team this season, but the Cardinals came through in the clutch on Sunday to fight off a stubborn Augustana College squad and complete a sweep of the Vikings, posting a 4-3 win at Zimmerman Stadium.

One of the top offensive clubs throughout the NCAA Division III ranks this season, the Cardinals were challenged by Augustana's defense, but wound up making the big plays late in the contest to improve to 15-3 in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play and 28-5 overall.

Sunday's game was scoreless for the first three innings, as North Central starting pitcher Nate Arenson and Augustana hurler Jared McIntosh traded shutout innings. The Cardinals broke the ice in the fourth, as Michael Corrigan reached on an error, advanced to third on a single by Steve Hlavac, and crossed the plate on a base hit through the left side by Matt Burke.

The Vikings (21-15, 5-13 CCIW) responded with a run of their own in the fifth, as McIntosh helped his own cause by reaching with a single and scoring on catcher Jim Sandberg's base hit. The score remained in a 1-1 deadlock until the seventh inning, when Peter Romanello doubled to drive in Burke, who had walked to lead off the inning. Romanello later scored on Dan Scott's sacrifice bunt.

A two-out rally produced a second run for Augustana in the eighth, and the Vikings took advantage of a pair of North Central errors to tie the contest at 3-3. Andrew Wulbecker led off the home half of the ninth with a base hit, and Nick Robinson walked on four pitches. WIth two outs, the pair moved up a base on a passed ball, leaving Matt Abraham with two runners in scoring position.

On a 1-0 count, Abraham stroked a base hit to left-center field, his first hit of the afternoon, to score pinch runner Justin Moriarty and secure North Central's ninth straight victory.

Hlavac and Wulbecker each went 2 for 4 in the game, and Corrigan also recorded a double. Arenson pitched the first 7 2/3 innings, scattering two runs and eight hits. Kevin Krajewski came on for the final 1 1/3 innings and was credited with the victory (2-0).

North Central travels to the University of Chicago for a non-conference game on Tuesday. Action at Anderson Field is scheduled to get under way at 3 p.m.