Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Apr. 12, 2023) - Scoring early and often, the North Central College baseball team used a 15-run performance to cruise past North Park University, 15-4 on Wednesday afternoon at Zimmerman Stadium.
After the Vikings were set down in order in the top of the first, Justin Rios was hit by the pitch to load the bases as Dom Listi advanced to third and Michael Davis moved to second. Cole Gregorio belted a clutch two-run single to center field, scoring the game's first runs. Rios came around to score on a Luke Lehnen single through the left side to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead after one inning of play.
North Park used three singles to push a run across the board in the second inning. Following a scoreless third inning, North Central's offense stepped up again. Lehnen led off with a single up the middle and moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt from the Vikings. Joe Hamilton plated Lehnen on an RBI single. After a Listi single and Davis walk, Rios crushed a double down the right field line to score Hamilton and Listi as the Cardinals took a 6-1 advantage.
Gregorio hit a leadoff double to begin the bottom of the fifth inning. Hamilton hit the second double of the inning to score Gregorio. John Michael Scumaci sent him home on an RBI single to center field to put North Central up 8-1.
The Cardinals opened up the game in the sixth inning. Following a Davis single and Rios walk, Jared Wojcik tripled to left center as Davis and Rios came around to score. Gregorio belted his second double of the game to plate Wojcik. With the bases loaded, Hamilton hit an RBI single to third base before John Petty drew a bases-loaded hit by pitch to give North Central a 13-2 advantage. Brent Swenson hit a pinch-hit double to center field as the Cardinals scored seven runs on six hits to take a 15-2 lead after six innings.
The Vikings tacked on two runs in the seventh but it wasn't enough as the game ended early with North Central taking a 15-4 victory over North Park in seven innings.
Hamilton led all batters with four hits, three runs, and three RBI's while Gregorio drove in three runs on three hits with two runs scored. Ten batters for the Cardinals recorded at least one hit while eight tallied at least one RBI. AJ Kutcher improved to 4-0 on the year with the win today. He threw five innings with four strikeouts and just one earned run.
The Cardinals continue CCIW play on Saturday as they host Carroll University (13-10, 6-1 CCIW). The doubleheader is set to begin at 1 p.m. at Zimmerman Stadium.
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