Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Feb. 23, 2024) - Kicking off the 2024 season down in Memphis, the North Central College baseball team's comeback fell a run short as Webster University defeated the Cardinals, 7-6 in each team's first game of the season.
The Gorlocks kept the Cardinals off the base paths for the first three innings while scoring a run in the first inning of play. In the bottom of the third, Webster added three insurance runs to extend the lead to 4-0.
North Central responded in the top half of the fourth as Luke Lehnen doubled to begin the inning. Trey Roach followed that up with a double of his own to plate Lehnen and get the Cardinals on the board. After Dave Fitzpatrick singled, Michael Davis used a sacrifice bunt to score Roach from third, making the score 4-2.
Webster added another run in the fourth inning on a double that followed a walk and sacrifice bunt.
Lehnen was hit by a pitch in the top of the fifth inning. He stole second and third base before scoring on a Fitzpatrick single to left field to bring the Cardinals back within two, 5-3.
AJ Kutcher posted a three-up, three-down bottom of the fifth inning to conclude his day on the mound. Brian Duvall relieved Kutcher and sat the Gorloks down in order thanks to a double play from the middle infield.
In the eighth, Fitzpatrick kept his hot start to the season going with a double to right field. John Michael Scumaci singled through the left side to score Fitzpatrick and bring North Central within one, 5-4.
Webster used a two-run home run in the bottom half of the eighth to extend their lead to 7-4.
Nolan King walked to open the ninth inning as Yuhki Yamada pinch ran for him. After moving to second base on a fielder's choice, Roach hit his second double of the game to plate Yamada. Fitzpatrick singled to score Roach as the Cardinals came within a run, 7-6. After Davis walked, the Gorloks recorded the final two outs to secure a 7-6 victory.
Fitzpatrick led the Cardinals with four hits, two runs batted in, and a run scored. Roach tallied three hits with Lehnen and Scumaci recording two. Kutcher suffered the loss with five earned runs, six hits allowed, and two strikeouts. Duvall and CJ Jensik posted scoreless appearances.
The Cardinals continue the Rhodes Classic by taking on the host Lynx tomorrow (Feb. 24) at 2 p.m. at Stauffer Field.
Download the free North Central Cardinals app, available for iOS and Android devices, to receive up-to-the-minute news, scores and updates on your favorite North Central teams. Click HERE for more information.
