FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Drew Sauer,Graduate Assistant to Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

 Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

 April 7, 2012—Rebounding from a tough loss yesterday afternoon, the North Central College baseball team bounced back to claim the final two games of the three game series against Illinois Wesleyan University, in a College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin double header Saturday afternoon inside Zimmerman Stadium.

Starting pitchers Ben Krusen and Connor Brown paced the way for the Cardinals (15-6, 6-2 CCIW) on the afternoon keeping the Titan batters in check throughout.

North Central jumped on the board first in game one in the second inning as Zach Pacanowski shot a double down the left field line and scored on a wild pitch later in the inning, giving the hosts an early, 1-0, lead.

The Cardinals would add another run in the third when Steve Hlavac singled home Sam Carius, putting North Central up by two.  In the bottom of the sixth Charlie Hern and Pacanowski each singled to lead off the inning.  After a Joe Paparone sacrifice bunt, Luke Waldier lined an RBI single to left to put the Cardinals ahead, 3-0.

Krusen (3-0) held the Titans (15-7, 5-3 CCIW) scoreless through six innings, but the visitors were able to push across two runs in the top of the seventh to close the gap, 3-2. 

Tyler Herman came in to pitch the final 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to claim his third save of the season.  Herman now has nine career saves, tying him for second all-time in program history.

Sutphin led all Cardinals hitters going 3 for 3 while Pacanowski was 2 for 4 in game one.

In the nightcap, North Central wasted no time getting started taking advantage of two Titan errors, plating five runs in the opening frame after the first five batters reached base.  Sam Carius and Frank Sutphin drew consecutive walks before

Hlavac smoked a single to left that got by the Titan left fielder, scoring two runs.  After an Illinois Wesleyan pitching change, Joe Turek drew a walk before Hlavac scored on a throwing error on Charlie Hern's fielder's choice to first base.  Two batters later Paparone drove an RBI single up the middle to plate Turek and Waldier then layed down a bunt to score Hern, giving North Central a commanding, 5-0, advantage.

The Cardinals added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth thanks to an Alex Khoury RBI double and a sacrifice fly by Sutphin.

Starter Connor Brown (1-0) kept the Titans hitters off balance all day, throwing 7 scoreless frames in his first start of the season while striking out two and walking none.

Paparone led the way offensively for North Central in game two, going 2 for 4 from the plate and driving in two runs.

North Central attempts to sweep the season series against Augustana College on Wednesday, April 11 in a CCIW matchup inside Zimmerman Stadium.  First pitch is slated for 3 pm.