Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
Apr. 12, 2024 - Taking on Willamette University (Ore.) for the first time in school history, the North Central College baseball team fell behind early and could not get the bats going as the Bearcats won 18-3 on Friday afternoon at Zimmerman Stadium.
Willamette tallied three runs in the first inning on three hits before taking a 7-0 lead in the second, scoring four runs on two hits and two North Central errors. After the Cardinal offense threatened but ultimately left the base loaded, the Bearcats scored another unearned run in the third.
In the bottom half of the third, Joe Hamilton and Trey Roach walked before Jackson Bland belted a double to right center field, scoring Hamilton and Roach to give North Central its first two runs of the game. Sam Corbett entered the game in the fourth, posting a 1-2-3 frame.
Jack Oberli and Danny Nuccio took back-to-back walks and each moved up a base on a John Michael Scumaci sacrifice bunt. Luke Lehnen used a sacrifice fly to plate Oberli, cutting into the Willamette deficit, 8-3.
A three-run shot from the Bearcat leadoff batter, Tassos Foster, gave Willamette an eight-run cushion after five innings of play.
The Bearcats added two runs in the seventh and another in the eighth before tacking on four runs in the ninth to earn an 18-3 victory on Friday night.
Bland led the Cardinals' offense with three hits and two RBIs. AJ Kutcher moved to 1-5 with the loss. Luke Shepski struck out five batters in his 2.1 innings of work. Pruitt Spritzer picked up the win for Willamette with 6.0 innings and three runs allowed.
The Cardinals and Bearcats square off twice tomorrow in a doubleheader beginning at noon. Senior day festivities will occur prior to game one at Zimmerman Stadium.
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.
