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

Box Score

LA CROSSE, Wis. (May 18, 2016) – After falling behind 6-0 on Wednesday in the first game of the 2016 NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Championship, the North Central College baseball team never fully recovered, falling 8-6 to Luther College.

The Norse (33-12) opened the contest by scoring two runs in each of the first, third and fourth innings, quickly taking a commanding 6-0 lead.

North Central did not go down handily however, battling back to plate three runs in the bottom of the fourth as Nick Sotiros smashed a three-run homerun to straight away center field, his fourth long ball of the season, cutting the Luther lead in half 6-3.

The Cardinals trimmed the lead even further in the bottom of the next half inning, as Bobby Smith got in on the homerun action, cranking a two-run shot to left, pulling North Central to within one, 6-5.

That would prove to be as close as North Central would come to the Luther lead, as the Norse added a run in the top of the sixth and another important insurance run in the top of the seventh to increase their advantage 8-5.

North Central plated a run in the bottom of the eighth as Michael Mateja led off with a double to left center and came around to score on an error on the ensuing throw into the infield, but it was too little too late for the Cardinals in the end.

Smith led the Cardinal offense finishing 2-for-4 from the plate with two runs scored and two driven in.  Mateja was also 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Nick Sotiros drove in a team-high three runs while scoring a run as well.

Jordan Van Dyck was credited with the loss on the mound, allowing four earned on five hits over 2 2/3 innings, walking a pair and striking out one.

Six of the nine batters in the Norse lineup finished with multiple hits, led by Alex Weber's 2-for-3 showing with a walk, three runs scored and two RBI.  Mitch Knippenberg also finished 2-for-3, adding two runs scored and a RBI.

Luther starter Nate Beckman finished what he started, allowing six runs, five earned, striking out four over his nine innings.

North Central will take on the loser of Concordia University Chicago and Kalamazoo tomorrow at 1:15 p.m. in an elimination game at Copeland Park.  The link to the tournament website is available HERE.