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

Box Score

CAROL STREAM, Ill. (May 20, 2021) – Fighting back to force extra innings, the North Central College baseball team came out on the wrong end of a 11-6 final against Carroll University in the second round of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament on Thursday at Pfund Stadium.

Trailing the entire contest, the Cardinals (34-8) overcame a 5-0 deficit with two runs in the bottom of the fifth and three more in the sixth as Rob Marinec drove in three over the two innings.

Carroll (22-20) regained the lead with a solo homerun in the top of the seventh, taking a 6-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth.  Down to their last out, pinch-hitter Brent Swenson was hit by a pitch to keep the game alive.  With Jared Wojcik pinch running for Swenson, Paul Beverly delivered the game-tying hit, a double to deep left center to take a 6-6 score into extra innings.

Extras did not fare well for North Central, as Carroll sent 11 batters to the plate to score five runs on four hits while the Cardinals failed to score in the bottom half.

Carroll racked up 15 hits on the afternoon, including three homeruns to plate 11 runs, the second-most runs given up this season by Cardinal pitching.

Starter Ryan Behling was credited with a no decision, allowing six earned on 10 hits over 6 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts.

Offensively, Marinec tied a career high and led all players with a 5-for-6 showing from the plate with three RBI.  Beverly finished 2-for-4 with a RBI, while Luke Gregorio scored twice.

North Central will take on Elmhurst University in an elimination game on day three of the CCIW Tournament on Friday, May 21 at 11 a.m. at Pfund Stadium.  The full tournament schedule is available HERE.