Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
Apr. 13, 2024 - Following a game one loss to Willamette University, the North Central College baseball team put together a six-run sixth inning to propel them past the Bearcats, 7-4 on senior day at Zimmerman Stadium.
Jeff Hoffman launched a home run over the left field fence to give the Bearcats a 2-0 lead early in game one. The Cardinals responded in the bottom half of the first as Luke Lehnen hit a leadoff single through the right side. After moving to second on a sacrifice bunt from Kolby Fujii, Jackson Bland hit an RBI single to plate Lehnen.
Willamette tacked on a run in the third and another in the fifth to take a 4-1 advantage.
Caleb Coberley walked to open the bottom half of the fifth. Lehnen hit a single before Bland loaded the bases with a single of his own. Coberley scored on a Dave Fitzpatrick fielder's choice to make the score 4-2 after five innings.
In the sixth, the Bearcats added three runs on three hits and a Cardinal error to increase their lead to five, 7-2.
Fujii took advantage of a Willamette error to put himself on the base paths. Another error put runners on first and second. Fitzpatrick loaded the bases with a hit-by-pitch. Trey Roach used a sacrifice fly to plate Fujii and give North Central its third run of the game.
Willamette added a much-needed insurance run in the eighth and four more in the ninth to hold a 12-3 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.
Fitzpatrick and Tommy Cheney reached on Bearcat misuses before moving up a base on a wild pitch. Michael Davis's RBI single scored Fitzpatrick from third. With the bases loaded, Jaden Weinzierl drew a hit-by-pitch to make the score 12-5. Yuhki Yamada walked to bring home Peyton Burgh. A sacrifice fly from Fujii scored Henry Saul. With two outs, Bland hit a clutch single to right field, scoring Weinzierl to put the score at 12-8. The Bearcats recorded the final out to secure the 12-8 victory in game one.
Bland led all hitters with four hits in game one while driving in two runs. Lehnen and Saul each recorded two hits and a run scored. Andrew Bollman allowed seven runs and four hits in his 5.1 innings pitched to claim the loss.
Game two began about the same as game one with Willamette belting a three-run home run to left field, taking a 3-0 advantage. Brian Duvall settled in after the first frame, not allowing a run for the rest of his outing.
In the bottom of the third, Yamada hit a two-out single and moved into scoring position by stealing second base. Bland stayed hot at the plate with another RBI single, plating the first Cardinal run of game two.
Bland worked a full count to begin the bottom of the sixth, eventually drawing a leadoff walk. Jack Oberli singled and John Michael Scumaci walked to load the bases. A Joe Hamiton fielder's choice scored Bland, bringing North Central within a run. Zach Carpita put the Cardinals in front with a two-run single through the left side. After a Danny Nuccio walk and Bearcat pitching change, Weinzeirl greeted the new pitcher with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Hamilton. With the bases loaded, Yamada hit an RBI single before Oberli walked to give North Central a 7-3 advantage after six innings.
Anthony Raineri relieved Duvall in the seventh, allowing just one run to the heart of the Willamette lineup. He worked around a Cardinal error and a double to keep the Bearcats scoreless in the eighth.
Lehnen came in from center field to pitch the final frame of the game. He forced a Bearcat strikeout and two flyouts, earning his fourth save of the season.
Yamada led the offense in game two with three hits, a run, and an RBI. Carpita drove in two and scored as well. Duvall threw 6.0 innings, allowing just three runs and striking out four, winning his second game of the year. Raineri struck out two in his two innings of work before Lehnen closed the door in the ninth.
North Central returns to College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play on Tuesday by wrapping up the season series with North Park University. That game is set for 3 p.m. on Apr. 16 at Zimmerman Stadium.
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