Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
DECATUR, Ill. (Apr. 9, 2024) - Taking on Millikin University for the first time this season, the North Central College baseball team could not overcome an early deficit, falling 9-3 on Tuesday evening at Workman Family Field.
The Big Blue racked up five hits to score three runs in the bottom half of the first inning, taking an early 3-0 lead. Elijah Hammond kept Millikin off the board in the second, but the Big Blue broke through to score a run in the third and four runs in the fourth, gaining an 8-0 advantage after four innings of play.
Joe Hamilton reached on a single to right field in the fifth before advancing to second on a Millikin error. Lehnen singled as Hamilton was gunned down at the plate, keeping the Cardinals scoreless.
After the Big Blue tacked on a run in the seventh, Caleb Coberley led off the top half of the eighth with a walk. Lehnen singled, moving Coberley to third base. Scoring the first run for North Central, Coberely crossed home plate on a Luke Shepski pinch hit fielder's choice. Shepski advanced to third on a Big Blue error and came around to score on another Millikin mishap, putting the score at 9-2.
Jaedin Kotecki held the Big Blue scoreless in the bottom half of the eighth, working around a double. Joe Hamilton and Danny Nuccio each reached base before moving up a base on a fielder's choice. Hamilton scored on a wild pitch, but that was all the runs the Cardinals recorded as Millikin won, 9-3.
Lehnen paced the Cardinal offense for the second straight night as he recorded three hits in his five at bats. Hammond suffered the loss, pitching three innings and succumbing seven runs. CJ Jensik struck out three batters in his 3.2 innings pitched. Anthony Raineri and Kotecki did not allow a run in their appearances.
North Central hosts Willamette University for a three-game series at Zimmerman Stadium. The Cardinals and Bearcats play at 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon.
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