Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

May 3, 2024 - On the back of Kolby Fujii who went 4-for-4 with two home runs, five RBI, three runs, and a sacrifice fly, the North Central College baseball team clinched their spot in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Baseball Tournament by defeating Elmhurst University, 10-8 on Friday afternoon.

The Bluejays struck first with three runs on three hits in the top half of the first inning. Starting pitcher Elijah Hammond settled in during the second inning with a 1-2-3 frame.

In the bottom of the second, Fujii belted a solo shot over the right field fence to put the Cardinals on the board. Back-to-back walks followed the long ball, allowing Luke Lehnen to hit an RBI single to score Dave Fitzpatrick from second base to bring North Central within one, 3-2.

Elmhurst responded with five singles in the top of the third to score three runs and extend their lead to four, 6-2. 

After Trey Roach doubled to right center, Fujii crushed his second home run of the day, a two-run shot to keep the Cardinals close, 6-4. CJ Jensik relieved Hammond in the fourth inning and posted a scoreless frame.

John Michael Scumaci hit a two-out double down the left field line before Jackson Bland delivered an RBI single to put North Central back within a run, 6-5. This extended Bland's on base streak to 27 straight games.

Tying the game at 6-6, Fujii hit an RBI single up the middle to score Jack Oberli from second base. After stealing second base and moving up to third on a Bluejay balk, Fitzpatrick hit a single through the left side to plate Fujii to give the Cardinals their first lead of the day, 7-6.

The Bluejays knotted the contest at 7-7 in the top of the seventh, taking advantage of a North Central error. In the eighth, Elmhurst used a clutch two-out single to take an 8-7 advantage.

Bland walked in the bottom of the eighth before a pitch hit Henry Saul. After a Bluejay pitching change, Roach drew a walk to load the bases. Following another Elmhurst pitching change, Oberli hit a two-run double down the left field line to score Bland and Saul. With Roach on third, Fujii drove in his fifth run of the day on a sacrifice fly to put North Central on top, 10-8.

Lehnen came in to pitch the ninth and followed a leadoff walk with three-straight strikeouts to close the door and secure a 10-8 victory, clinching the Cardinals' spot in the CCIW Tournament.

 Fujii finished the day with five RBI, four hits, and three runs at the plate. Oberli drove in two runs on two hits and a run scored. Roach scored twice with a hit and a walk. Anthony Raineri picked up his second win of the year, throwing 0.1 innings with a strikeout before Lehnen recorded his fifth save. 

The Cardinals wrap up the regular season tomorrow with a doubleheader at Elmhurst. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Butterfield Park. 

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