Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Mar. 28, 2023 - Following a week that saw the North Central College baseball team win and lose a game, the Cardinals rose one spot to No. 16 in the latest D3baseball.com Top 25 poll, the organization released on Tuesday.

North Central dominated Illinois Tech, 21-0 on Wednesday afternoon as 14 Cardinals recorded at least one hit while six batters launched home runs. AJ Kutcher, who won CCIW pitcher of the week for his performance against IIT, threw five innings with seven strikeouts, allowing just one hit and zero runs. On Sunday, North Central fell to No. 22 Aurora University in a top-25 showdown.

The pitching staff for the Cardinals has been one of the best in Division III baseball this season. Their team earned run average of 2.60 leads the country while their 6.89 hits allowed per nine innings rank fifth in the nation. Jason Shanner is 12th among pitchers in DIII baseball with 4.22 hits allowed per nine innings and is 13th in ERA with 0.84.

Birmingham-Southern College holds onto the No. 1 spot with Salisbury University, Shenandoah University, Eastern Connecticut State University, and Baldwin Wallace University rounding out the top five. Augustana College joins North Central as the two CCIW schools to appear in the top 25 as the Vikings are ranked No. 25.

The Cardinals' game against Franklin College has been canceled due to the weather forecast. North Central opens up CCIW play on Friday as they take on Wheaton College at Zimmerman Stadium. The first pitch is set for 4 p.m.

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