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

Box Score

May 2, 2012—The North Central College baseball team's ninth inning rally against non-conference foe Benedictine University fell short Wednesday afternoon inside Zimmerman Stadium, as the Cardinals fell 5-4.
 
The Eagles (24-12) got on the board first in the top of the third inning connecting on five hits to plate five runs.  Ryan Mullin got the scoring started with a 2-RBI single down the right field line, shortly after John Cervantes followed with a three-run homerun to give Benedictine an early 5-0 lead.
 
The Cardinal (20-15) bullpen, which featured seven different pitchers on the afternoon, would hold the Eagles scoreless over the final six innings while giving up only three hits in that span.
 
North Central was able to plate a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning when Peter Romanello lined an RBI double to left field followed by an RBI single by Alex Khoury to cut the Eagle lead to 5-2.
 
The Cardinals would cut into the Benedictine lead yet again in the bottom of the seventh inning when Joe Turek plated two runs on a double off the center field wall, trimming the Eagle advantage to 5-4.
 
In the bottom of the ninth inning the Cardinals loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk but Benedictine's Pat Collis forced a double play groundout to end the game and secure the victory for the Eagles.
 
Turek paced the way for North Central going 2 for 2 from the plate with two RBI and three walks.
 
North Central travels to North Park University on Saturday, May 5 for the final College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin doubleheader of the season.  First pitch is slated for 12 pm at the Holmgren Complex.