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

Results

Apr. 25, 2011 - After getting shut out for the first five innings, the North Central College baseball broke away from Elmhurst College in grand fashion on Monday, scoring seven times in its final three innings at bat to erase an early deficit and defeat the Bluejays, 7-2, at Zimmerman Stadium.

The Cardinals completed a three-game series sweep of Elmhurst for the second straight season and improved to 10-3 at home in 2011.

The Bluejays (12-16, 2-12 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) went after North Central starting pitcher Michael McGrath right from the start, drawing a leadoff walk in the first before outfielder Tyler Wargo hit a two-run home run to give the visitors an early lead. McGrath, however, quickly settled into a rhythm and did not allow a run from then on, yielding just four hits in his eight-inning tenure on the mound.

The Cardinals got on the board in the sixth, as Dan Scott and Matt Burke led off with a single and a double, respectively. Matt Abraham drove in North Central's first run with a sacrifice fly and Burke tied the score by crossing the plate on a wild pitch. The Cardinals loaded the bases with two walks and a single, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Nick Daniels and a base hit by Tom Ross.

Joe Turek led off the eighth inning with his eighth home run of the season. Daniels followed with a triple and scored on a single by Ross, who later came home on a base hit by Scott.

McGrath improved to 2-1 with the victory, striking out four and walking three. Burke and Turek each went 3 for 4 at the plate, while Scott was 3 for 5. 

North Central's Tuesday game at Rockford College has been cancelled. The Cardinals (17-8, 11-4 CCIW), who are now tied for first place in the CCIW standings, are set to travel to Northwestern University on Wednesday. Action at Wells Field is scheduled for 3 p.m.