Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
Apr. 28, 2024 - Scoring the first five runs of the game, the North Central College baseball team moved up to fourth place in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin with a 9-1 win over Carthage College on Sunday afternoon.
Following a 1-2-3 top of the first from Elijah Hammond, Luke Lehnen reached on an error from the Firebird second baseman. After advancing to third, Lehnen scored on a Jackson Bland RBI single to plate the game's first run. Bland moved to third base on a failed pickoff attempt before Trey Roach singled up the middle to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.
Joe Hamilton and Lehnen singled before moving up a base on a wild pitch. John Michael Scumaci came through with a two-run single up the middle to score Hamilton and Lehnen. A Henry Saul double to left field scored Scumaci, putting North Central on top, 5-0.
Carthage used a two-out single to score their first two runs of the game in the fourth inning, closing their deficit to three, 5-2.
Michael Davis drew a pinch hit walk and advanced to second on an error from the Firebird hurler. Hamilton hit another single, to score Davis from second and give North Central a 6-2 advantage after five innings.
Nolan King relieved Hammond in the seventh and held Carthage scoreless over the next two innings.
Jack Oberli walked and Dave Fitzpatrick was hit by a pitch to reach base safely. A Hamilton single loaded the bases for Lehnen. After each runner moved up a base on a wild pitch, Lehnen scored Fitzpatrick. Scumaci used a sacrifice fly to plate Hamilton as the Cardinals took a 9-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth.
Lehnen entered the game on the mound, posting a three-up, three-down frame to capture the 9-2 win for North Central to complete the three-game series sweep of Carthage.
Hamilton tied a career-high with four hits in the ballgame while scoring two runs and driving in a run. Lehnen scored twice with two hits as Scumaci drove in three runs on the day. Hammond earned the win by throwing six innings with a career-best six strikeouts. King and Lehnen posted scoreless appearances from the bullpen.
The Cardinals host Millikin University on Wednesday for a CCIW matchup as North Central looks to avenge a loss earlier in the season. First pitch at Zimmerman Stadium is set for 6 p.m.
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