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

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

CAROL STREAM, Ill. (Apr. 13, 2013) – The North Central College baseball team salvaged a series split against Wheaton College in a College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) doubleheader, Saturday afternoon at Lee Pfund Stadium at Legion Field.
 
With the Cardinals holding onto a 2-1 lead with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Wheaton's Phil Tuttle promptly tied with game with a solo homerun to right off North Central starter Kris Singh.
 
Two innings later the Thunder struck yet again as Kyle Mellinger lined a walk-off single to left, giving Wheaton the 3-2 game one victory.
 
Singh went nine strong innings earning the no decision with seven strikeouts.  Bryan Polowy was credited with the loss for the Cardinals throwing 1 1/3 innings in relief.
 
Kevin Hennessy was 2-for-3 with two walks and a RBI in the opener, while Zac Pacanowski finished 2-for-5.
 
In the nightcap, the Cardinals (11-13, 4-7 CCIW) struck first as Hennessy and Nick Daniels each lined RBI doubles and John Ciolkosz added an RBI groundout, giving the visitors a 3-0 first inning lead.
 
The Thunder (8-17, 4-7 CCIW) responded with two runs on three hits in the bottom half of the inning, trimming the Cardinal lead 3-2.
 
In the top of the fifth, Ciolkosz launched his CCIW leading fourth homerun over the right field fence, a three-run shot to give North Central a 6-2 advantage.
 
Adding a run in each of the next two innings, the Cardinal bullpen duo of Connor Brown and Brendan Ryan held the Thunder scoreless in relief of starter Ben Krusen.  Krusen improves to 2-1 this season, giving up five earned runs over 5 2/3 innings while striking out eight and Ryan earned his fourth save of the season.
 
Four Cardinals finished game two with multiple hits, while Ciolkosz finished with a game-high four RBI.
 
North Central travels to Augustana College on Monday, Apr. 15 for the rubber game of the season series after the two teams split an Apr. 2 twin bill.  First pitch at Swanson Stadium at Brunner Field is slated for 6 p.m.