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

Box Score

Apr. 13, 2016 – Behind a dazzling complete game victory from starter Andrew Houser, the North Central College baseball team completed the season sweep over Millikin University, 6-1 on Wednesday afternoon.
 
North Central (17-4, 6-3 CCIW) has now won nine-straight over the Big Blue (13-10, 2-7 CCIW), sweeping the three-game series each of the last three seasons.  Houser held the Big Blue scoreless over the first seven innings, allowing just one run in the eighth, while completing his first game of the season, striking out two and walking none.
 
The Cardinal offense gave Houser a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, as lined a one-out single to right, followed by singles from Nick Sotiros and David Rico to load the bases.  Dan Sotiros followed up with a RBI fielder's choice, scoring Mateja to get the scoring started.
 
After three straight scoreless frames, the Cardinal offense came alive in the bottom of the sixth, as Sing Fong and Bobby Smith each walked to lead off the inning.  After each advanced a base on a Millikin wild pitch, Mateja plated the pair on a line drive single up the middle, giving North Central a 3-0 lead.
 
Nick Sotiros followed with a double down the left field line, advancing Mateja to third, still with one out in the inning.  After Rico walked to load the bases, Dan Sotiros lofted a sacrifice fly to center, while Mateja trotted home, once again increasing the Cardinal lead 4-0.
 
North Central plated an unearned run in the seventh to take a 5-0 lead before the Big Blue got something going in the top of the eighth, as back-to-back hits put runners on second and third with one out.  After losing his shutout on a Kaleb Krigbaum RBI groundout the next batter, Houser induced a lazy fly fall to right to end the jam.
 
The Cardinals added an insurance run for Houser in the bottom of the eighth, but the senior was in control from the first pitch, finishing what he started to improve to 4-0 this season.
 
Mateja led the offense with a 2-for-4 showing from the plate, scoring twice while driving in a pair.  Nick Sotiros and Matt Sutherland also finished 2-for-4 from the dish, while Rico was 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored.
 
Michael Guddendorf and Seth Coffey were the only two Millikin batters to have any success off Houser while the rest of the lineup went 2-for-26, as Guddendorf finished 3-for-3 with the lone run scored and Coffey also added a pair of hits.
 
North Central will host Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday, Apr. 16 with first pitch of the doubleheader slated for 12 p.m.  Links to live in-game coverage are available HERE.