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

Box Score

GARY, Ind. (Apr. 14, 2015) – Despite jumping out to an early 5-0 lead, the North Central College baseball team hung on to defeat Wabash College, 7-6 in 11 innings on Tuesday evening under the lights at the U.S. Steel Yard.
 
North Central got the scoring started in the top of the second inning as Joe Paparone led off with a single to left and Vito DeRango followed with a single through the right side two batters later.
 
After a Richard Concialdi walk, Bobby Smith stepped to the plate and lined a triple down the right field line, clearing the bases and giving the Cardinals a 3-0 advantage.
 
The Cardinals (16-11) added another run in the top of the fourth as Jake Rone led off the inning with a double down the right field line and came around to score on a Paparone single two batters later.
 
In the top of the seventh, Smith drove home his fourth run of the game to increase the Cardinal lead 5-0, driving in Concialdi after reaching on a lead off hit by pitch. 
 
Cardinal starter Evan Blunk was pulled after 6 2/3 strong innings, allowing just three hits and no runs while striking out a pair, but the Cardinal bullpen could not close the door as Wabash (11-16) scored five runs on six straight hits to start the eighth inning, knotting the score at 6-6 after the two teams traded run in the seventh.
 
Forcing extra frames, the Cardinals struck first in the top of the 11^th as Sing Fong came around to score on a Wabash balk, after pinch running for Concialdi earlier in the inning, once again taking a 7-6 lead.
 
Nick Anderson closed out the final four innings of the contest in relief to earn the win, forcing a double play to end the contest, allowing three hits and no runs, striking out one.
 
Smith finished 3-for-4 from the dish with four RBI, while Paparone added a pair of hits to go along with a run batted in and two runs scored.  Sam Klein increased his season-best hitting streak to 12 games, going 1-for-6 from the plate.
 
North Central is back on the diamond on Thursday, Apr. 16, traveling to Aviator Stadium in Cherry Valley, Ill. to take on Rockford College at 6 p.m.  The link to live in-game statistics is available HERE.