Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (May 12, 2022) - Continuing the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament, the North Central College baseball team cruised to a 10-0 win over Carroll University in just seven innings on Thursday afternoon at Zimmerman Stadium.
Neither team recorded a hit in the first inning of play before Luke Lehnen shut down a Pioneer scoring attempt by gunning down Mitchell Massino at the plate to end the top of the second inning.
In the bottom of the third, Dom Listi doubled to lead off the frame. Lehnen launched a home run over the left field fence to put the Cardinals on top, 2-0.
Ryan Behling kept Carroll off the board in the top of the fourth. With two outs in the bottom half of the inning, Listi singled, followed up by a Lehnen double down the left field line. Justin Rios hit a clutch two-run single to extend the Cardinal lead and chase Brett Buzzelli out of the game.
Still with two outs, Trey Roach was hit by a pitch and Jared Wojcik walks to load the bases for Paul Beverly. He walked on four straight pitches to give North Central a 5-0 advantage. Carroll went to their bullpen once more in the inning as Dawson Kiphart was greeted with a two-run double from Michael Davis, scoring Roach and Wojcik. Adding a final run to the board was Jack Oberli who singled to plate Davis, putting the Cardinals on top, 8-0.
Behling went three up and three down in the fifth before Rios singled through the left side to score Listi from second base. Giving the Cardinals a 10-run advantage, Joe Hamilton scored Beverly on a sacrifice fly to left field.
Not allowing a hit over the final four innings of play, Behling closed out the seventh and earned his fifth win of the season. He allowed just three hits over his seven innings pitched and struck out three. Behling tallied his third career shutout, tying him for most in school history.
Listi posted a game-high three hits while scoring three runs. Lehnen drove in two and scored two runs on the day while Rios posted three RBIs.
The Cardinals take on Millikin on day three of the CCIW Tournament. Both teams need to win to stay alive as the first pitch is set for 12 PM at Zimmerman Stadium.
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