Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
GREENCASTLE, Ind. (Mar. 21, 2024) - Ending their four-game skid, the North Central College baseball team leaned on its pitching to capture a 4-0 shutout victory over DePauw University on Thursday afternoon at Walker Field.
AJ Kutcher started the game on the bump for the Cardinals, working back-to-back 1-2-3 innings before striking out the side in the bottom of the third inning. Following another three-up, three-down frame from Kutcher, he was relieved by Elijah Hammond who entered the 0-0 game in the bottom of the fifth.
Hammond did not allow a hit in the fifth as North Central's offense tallied the game's first run. Trey Roach opened the sixth on a hit by pitch and stole second base to put himself in scoring position. After moving to third on a productive groundout by Jackson Bland, Luke Lehnen drove in Roach on an RBI single.
Back-to-back hitless innings by Hammond paved the way for Dave Fitzpatrick to belt his first home run of the season to tack on a run for the Cardinals, now leading 2-0.
The Tigers drew two walks from Gavin Gawronski in the bottom of the eighth as Anthony Raineri entered the game and produced three straight outs to keep DePauw off the board.
Joe Hamilton led off the ninth with a double to right field before Roach walked. Bland stepped to the plate and delivered a two-run triple to left field, adding a pair of insurance runs to put North Central ahead, 4-0.
Raineri forced two strikeouts in the ninth after two singles as he picked up his first save of the season, giving the Cardinals a 4-0 win over DePauw.
Kutcher threw four innings, allowing just one hit, no runs, and striking out five in his start. Hammond, who earned his first win of the season, tossed three hitless innings for the Cardinals. Roach scored twice with Bland driving in two runs. Fitzpatrick's home run was the third of the season for North Central.
The Cardinals take a needed break following a busy start to the season before beginning College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play on Saturday, Mar. 30 with a doubleheader against Wheaton College. The Thunder took all three games from North Central a season ago. First pitch for game one is set for 12 p.m. at Zimmerman Stadium.
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