Apr. 30, 2014 – Breaking out with a 10-run bottom of the third, the North Central College baseball team cruised to a 14-4, eight inning win over Wisconsin Lutheran College, wrapping up non-conference play Wednesday afternoon at Zimmerman Stadium.

North Central (23-11) sent 15 batters to the plate in the bottom half of the third to score 10 runs and take an 11-0 lead after three innings played.  After Jake Rone led off the inning with a flyout to center, the next eight Cardinal batters came around to score as North Central batted around without recording an out.

John Ciolkosz got the scoring started in the inning with a bases clearing double to center after Paparone and Klein reached base via single, and Vito DeRango loaded the bases on a walk.  After Zac Pacanowski was hit for the second time in as many at bats and Alex Khoury drew a walk to load the bases yet again, Nick DeWolf lined a single up the middle, plating a pair and increasing the Cardinal lead 6-0.

Sam Carius followed with a run-scoring double to left center, before Jake Rone came to the plate for the second time in the inning and lined a sharp single up the middle, scoring Carius and DeWolf. 

Later in the inning, DeRango pulled a double down the left field line scoring a run, while Sam Klein would cap off the rally, scoring on a wild pitch two batters later, increasing the North Central lead 11-0.

The Warriors (16-18) rallied with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the fourth as well as a pair in the top of the sixth, but the Cardinal lead was insurmountable as North Central ended the contest with two runs in the bottom of the eighth.

Cardinal starter Andrew Houser went six strong innings on the bump, giving up just one earned run while striking out five to improve to 4-2 this season.  Jon Rashid tossed the final two innings, giving up no runs while surrendering just one hit.

The Cardinal offense ran Wisconsin Lutheran starter Travis Stahulak after just 2 1/3 innings to the tune of nine earned runs on seven hits, walking three and hitting a pair of batters.

Joe Paparone continued his hot streak from the dish, going 3 for 5 with a double and a run scored.  Rone and Ciolkosz each finished 2 for 4 on the afternoon, with three RBI and two runs scored.  Khoury also added a pair of hits in three at bats, with two runs scored, a RBI, walk and hit by pitch, while DeWolf added three RBI.

North Central travels to Carthage College for game one of the all-important College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) regular season finale.  The Cardinals are just one game back of the top spot in the conference heading into this weekend.  The link to live statistics is available HERE.