Contact: Matthew Eaker, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, mreaker@noctrl.edu

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Apr. 15, 2023) - Playing their sixth straight College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) opponent, the North Central College baseball team's 22-run performance secured a two game sweep over the Carroll University Pioneers on Saturday afternoon at Zimmerman Stadium. 

The Pioneers (13-12, 6-3 CCIW) single twiced to start the second inning to put runners on first in third with no outs. The Pioneers brought the first runner across home plate to the next batter as Eddie Synek reached on a fielder's choice to give Carroll a one run lead. Ryan Behling closed the door on the inning as he struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning. 

The North Central offense came alive in the bottom of the second as Jared Wojcik singled up the middle before stealing second to put himself into scoring position. Cole Gregorio brought Wojcik home as he singled to left center to tie the game at one. Luke Lehnen gave the Cardinals runners at second and third as he roped a double into right center field. The Cardinals took a 2-1 lead as Gregorio crossed home plate after a wild pitch. 

After Dave Fitzpatrick was hit by a pitch, Joe Hamilton found the gap in left center to bring Lehnen home and give the Cardinals a two-run lead. John Michael Scumaci ripped a two RBI double down the left field line to extend the lead to 5-1. The Cardinals found themselves up by five runs as Michael Davis brought home Scumaci on an RBI single. 

Both pitchers shut down both offenses throughout the middle innings but the Cardinal offense found its footing in the bottom of the fifth. The bases were loaded for Gregorio who hit a base clearing double to put the Cardinals up 9-1. The Cardinals closed out the game as the Pioneers walked in two runs, giving the Cardinals an 11-1 win. Ryan Behling earned the win on the mound as he allowed seven hits and only one run. Behling struck out a career high 11 batters in the seven innings he pitched. 

Luke Lamm took the hill in game two and shut down the Pioneer offense right away as he struck out two batters in the first inning. The North Central offense wasted no time as Wojcik singled through the left side of the infield to give the Cardinals a one run lead. Gregorio brought two more runners across as he lined a single to right center the next at bat. Fitzpatrick brought Gregorio around as he found a hole through the right side of the infield before Hamilton roped a single to left to bring across the Cardinals fifth run of the inning. 

After another dominant inning from Lamm, Justin Rios brought home Listi on a single in the bottom of the second to give the Cardinals a 6-0 lead. Gregorio earned another RBI as he singled through the left side of the infield but the inning would end after a double play. 

Scumaci found a gap in the Pioneer defense for a single to bring home Fitzpatrick in the third inning before Listi smoked a double into left field, sending home Hamiltom to give the Cardinals a comfortable nine run lead. 

The Pioneers came alive in the fourth inning as they sent a single through the middle to score one run before Benton Holly roped a double to left center to cut the deficit to seven. Nolan Shannon relieved Lamm in the top of the sixth and after two strikeouts, the Pioneers scored their third run of the ballgame off a Becker single to left field. Gavin Gawronski closed out the inning on the mound, forcing a flyout to center field. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Scumaci drew a walk and after stealing second, Rios drove him in with a base hit to left field. Rios would come around to score later in the inning as Wojcik singled through the left side to give the Cardinals an 11-3 advantage. 

CJ Jensik came in to close out the game in the ninth inning and after picking up a strikeout, Jensik forced two fly outs to give the Cardinals an 11-3 win over the Pioneers. Lamm earned the win for the Cardinals, pitching five innings and allowing three hits and two runs. 

The Cardinals (16-9, 5-5 CCIW) head to Carroll University tomorrow afternoon for the series finale. The first pitch is set for 1 pm at Frame Park in Waukesha, Wis. 

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