Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (Apr. 8, 2024) - Wrapping up their first three-game College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin series of the season, the North Central College baseball team fell to Illinois Wesleyan University, 4-2 on Monday night at Horenberger Field.
The Titans pushed an unearned run across in the bottom half of the first inning. After a scoreless second frame, Caleb Coberley and Luke Lehnen singled to and advanced up a base on a John Michael Scumaci sacrifice bunt. The Cardinals could not capitalize on the opportunity and kept the score 1-0 after three innings.
Extending their lead, Illinois Wesleyan added a run in both the fourth and fifth innings to take a 3-0 advantage halfway through the game.
Following another run from the Titans, Lehnen recorded his fourth hit of the day to lead off the top of the eighth inning. Trey Roach doubled to center field to send Lehnen to third base. Dave Fitzpatrick drove in the first North Central run on an RBI groundout. Jackson Bland plated Roach with a single to left center field and cut into the deficit, 4-2.
In the ninth, the Cardinals were held without a base runner as the Titans claimed a 4-2 victory on Monday night.
Lehnen led all batters with four hits while scoring a run. Fitzpatrick and Bland each drove in a run as well. Gavin Gawronski suffered the loss, throwing 6.2 innings with four runs, four walks, and three strikeouts. CJ Jensik and Nolan King each tossed scoreless outings to finish the game.
The Cardinals continue conference play tomorrow evening with another trip to central Illinois, taking on Millikin University. The first pitch at Workman Family Field is set for 6 p.m.
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