Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (May 7, 2022) - Falling in both ends of a doubleheader, the North Central College baseball team lost game one to Carthage College, 9-1 before falling 6-4 in game two on Saturday at Zimmerman Stadium.
The Firebirds used five hits, including a home run from Austin Prybylinski to take a 4-0 lead after the first half-inning of play. In the bottom half of the first two innings, the Cardinal offense was set down in order. Adding to their lead, PJ Moser launched a home run to right field, giving Carthage a 5-0 advantage.
Extending their lead in the fourth, The Firebirds took advantage of two walks and a hit by a pitch to tack on two more runs, going ahead 7-0.
Dom Listi doubled to begin the bottom half of the fourth inning and scored on an RBI single off the bat of Jared Wojcik. Robert Deischer held the Firebirds scoreless in the top of the fifth before they added on two more runs in the sixth.
Neither team put a runner past second base for the remainder of the contest as Carthage won 9-1 in game one. Bryce Shaum threw a complete game for the Firebirds and picked up the win while Charlie Klemm lost just his second game of the season.
Game two saw Carthage take an early lead as they pushed a run across in the top of the first inning. The Firebirds added four runs on four hits in the third inning to take a 5-0 lead.
North Central looked to answer in the bottom of the third inning as Joe Hamilton hit a leadoff single. He moved to third on a Justin Rios single to right field. Listi plated Hamilton on a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring the first run of the game for North Central.
After two scoreless frames, Michael Davis and Brent Swenson each reached base to open the bottom half of the sixth. Luke Lehnen reached on a fielder's choice and proceeded to steal second base. With runners on second and third, Rios singled to right field, allowing Swenson and Lehnen to score. Rios came around to score on a Wojcik single, bringing North Central within one, 4-5 after six complete innings
The first batter of the seventh, Prybylinski hit his second home run of the day to put the Firebirds ahead by two, 6-4.
North Central threatened in the eighth, as Lehnen singled and advanced to third with two outs. Carthage was able to work out of the jam and keep the Cardinals at four runs. North Central went down in order in the ninth inning as the Firebirds held on to win, 6-4.
Brandon Marquardt improved to 2-0 while Ryan Behling moved to 4-3 on the season. Rios tallied four hits, two RBIs, and a run in game two. Wojcik posted two hits and an RBI as well.
The Cardinals wrap up their regular season on Monday as they host Illinois Wesleyan University at 12 PM at Zimmerman Stadium.
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