Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
Apr. 21, 2024 - Scoring six runs in the first inning, the North Central College baseball team never looked back on Sunday against Augustana, winning 13-3 in just eight innings at Zimmerman Stadium.
Following a three-up, three-down top of the first from starter Brian Duvall, Luke Lehnen singled and stole to open the bottom half of the frame. John Michael Scumaci tripled down to plate the game's first run. Jackson Bland followed that up with a double to score Scumaci. Dave Fitzpatrick (single) and Trey Roach (hit by pitch) each reach to load the bases. Jack Oberli drew an RBI walk before Henry Saul hit a single to score Fitzpatrick. Roach scored on a wild pitch to plate the fifth run of the inning. After a Viking pitching change, Saul scored on a fielder's choice from Lehnen.
Roach hit a triple in the second inning and scored on the next at-bat thanks to an Oberli sacrifice fly. Augustana took advantage of a Cardinal error to score their first run of the game in the top of the third.
Ethan Sosnowski hit a solo home run in the sixth inning before the Vikings scored another unearned run on back-to-back errors from North Central.
The Cardinals answered in the bottom of the sixth inning. Scumaci and Bland singled before Fitzpatrick was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Roach drew another hit by pitch to score Scumaci. Oberli hit an RBI single followed by a sacrifice fly from Saul. Caleb Coberley used a pinch hit sacrifice fly to plate Roach, making the score 11-3 after six innings.
Lehnen and Scumaci each walked to lead off the seventh. After two fly outs, Roach hit a clutch two-out single to score Lehnen from second base.
Ending the game early, Coberley walked in the eighth inning. On a wild pitch, he advanced to third base. With two outs, a Viking error allowed Coberley to score and secure a 13-3 win.
Duvall threw 5.2 innings to pick up his third win of the year. He allowed three runs, just one benign earned. Anthony Raineri earned the save by throwing 2.1 innings and allowing no runs. Scumaci, Bland, Roach, and Oberli each tallied two hits with Oberli driving in three. Roach scored three times as well.
The Cardinals wrap up the two-game series with Carroll University on Tuesday. North Central won the first game 13-4 on the road. This time, the Pioneers visit Naperville for a 5 p.m. first pitch.
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
