Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (March 16, 2022) - Facing Arcadia University for the first time in program history, the North Central College baseball team lost 11-6 as the Knights put together an eight-run third inning to secure the win on Wednesday at Centennial Fields in Orlando.
After a scoreless first inning of play, Luke Lehnen, Justin Rios, and Michael Patterson each singled to load the bases in the top of the second. Brent Swenson used a sacrifice fly to score Lehnen before Michael Davis singled up the middle to give North Central a 2-0 advantage.
The Cardinals added to their lead when Paul Beverly scored on a wild pitch. Arcadia responded by scoring eight runs in the bottom half of the third on seven hits and one Cardinal error to take an 8-3 lead.
CJ Jensik came in relief and kept Arcadia scoreless until the Knights scored two unearned runs in the fifth inning. North Central got a run back in the top of the seventh as John Petty singled with one out. Dom Listi walked, followed by a Jared Wojcik single up the middle to load the bases. Paul Beverly stepped up to the plate and was hit by his sixth pitch of the season to give the Cardinals their fourth run of the day.
Patterson kicked off the eighth inning with a single to left field. Pinch hitter Trey Roach came in and hit his first home run of the season, closing the gap to five runs, 11-6.
In the ninth, the Cardinals hit three straight singles but could not push across any runs as the Knights held on to win their 11th game of the season. AJ Kutcher was charged with the loss for North Central while Nadell Booker improved to 2-0. Patterson led all batters with three hits on the day. The Cardinals left 13 runners on bases, compared to Arcadia's seven.
North Central completes its spring break trip tomorrow as they take on The College of Wooster at Centennial Park Fields (C10) in Orlando. The first pitch is slated for 10:30 AM (ET).
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