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

Box Score

Apr. 7, 2016 – In their most lopsided game of the season, the North Central College baseball team found themselves on the wrong end of a 20-1 contest, falling to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in a non-conference matchup at Zimmerman Stadium on Thursday.
 
The Cardinal pitching staff was roughed up to the tune of 20 runs on 22 hits, while the Fightin' Engineers (14-5) took advantage of five Cardinal errors. 
 
Rose-Hulman jumped on the board first with five runs in the top of the second and scored in all but two innings the rest of the contest.  The Cardinals forced to easy outs to begin the inning, but a two-out walk and a single to left got the rally starter, while Kody Alayon reached on a dropped third strike to extend the inning and load the bases. 
 
Patrick Klima promptly cleared the bases the following at-bat with a double to straight-away center, while Zach Truck followed with a two-RBI double two batters later to give Rose-Hulaman a 5-0 lead, after Caleb Kissel was hit by a pitch.
 
North Central got a run back in the bottom of the inning on a Dan Sotiros RBI single through the left side, but failed to capitalize with the bases loaded and no outs, as a 1-2-3 double play and strikeout bailed the Fightin' Engineers out of the inning.
 
Rose-Hulman added a run in each of the fourth and fifth innings, before the flood gates opened in the seventh as the visitors plated six runs on six hits, while taking advantage of three Cardinal errors in the inning to take a 13-1 lead after seven.
 
The Fightin' Engineers were not done either, adding two runs in the top of the eighth and another five spot in the top of the ninth to extend their lead 20-1.
 
12 different players finished with a hit for Rose-Hulman, led by Hazen Hamather's 4-for-4 performance, while Drew Schnitz finished 4-for-7 with three runs scored.  Patrick Klima added a 3-for-4 showing from the plate, scoring three times while driving in four.
 
North Central (14-3) only mustered five hits on the afternoon, as Rose-Hulman starter Joey Callahan kept Cardinal hitters off balance over his five innings pitched to earn the victory, allowing five hits while striking out four.  The Rose-Hulman bullpen held the Cardinal hitless over the final four innings, combing for three strikeouts.
 
Michael Mateja was 1-for-2 with a walk and run scored to lead the Cardinal offense, while Dan Sotiros drove in the lone run with his RBI single in the second.
 
Brett Pyburn suffered the loss on the mound for North Central, allowing six runs, all earned, on seven hits over 3 1/3 innings pitched.
 
North Central travels to North Park University on Saturday, Apr. 9, with game one of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) doubleheader slated for 1 p.m.  Links to live in-game coverage are available HERE.