Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
CHICAGO (May 8, 2024) - Six of the game's 15 runs were scored in the ninth inning on Wednesday night in a quarterfinal matchup of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Tournament as the North Central College baseball team fell 8-7 to the Augustana College Vikings to bow out of the bracket.
The Vikings scored first as three straight singles loaded the bases before Augustana scored two unearned runs, taking advantage of a Cardinal error.
Luke Lehnen and John Michael Scumaci each singled before Jackson Bland loaded the bases on a fielder's choice. Jack Oberli's fielder's choice put Lehnen out at the plate before a Vikings throwing error allowed Scumaci to score and give North Central a 1-0 lead. Tying the game at 2-2, Trey Roach hit a sacrifice fly to deep right field, plating Bland from third base.
In the third, Lehnen singled to left field to open the bottom of the third inning. Moving to third base on a walk and sacrifice bunt, Oberli drove in Lehnen on a sacrifice fly to give North Central a 3-2 edge.
The Vikings responded by taking the lead in the top of the fourth inning, using three hits and a sacrifice bunt to score twice to lead 4-3 after four innings of action.
After an Oberli double, Roach reached on an error to put runners on the corners. Roach stole second base, making way for Oberli to steal home on the throw down to second base, knotting the contest at 4-4 in the sixth.
Bland led off the eighth with a walk. After Roach was hit by a pitch, the Vikings made a pitching change. Henry Saul greeted the new hurler with a single to load the bases. Dave Fitzpatrick drew an RBI walk to put the Cardinals on top, 5-4.
Augustana used a leadoff walk to force North Central to go to the bullpen in the top of the ninth inning. Following a sacrifice bunt and a hit by pitch, Grant Biggins tied the game for the Vikings with an RBI single. Augustana took the lead on a bases-loaded walk before a two-run double gave them an 8-5 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.
Lehnen and Bland walked before Roach hit a clutch two-out single, scoring both Lehnen and Bland to bring the Cardinals within one, 8-7. Caleb Coberley walked to load the bases, but Augustana forced a Fitzpatrick fielder's choice to secure the win, 8-7.
Lehnen reached base in every at bat, recording three hits, two walks and two runs in the leadoff spot. Roach drove in three runs while Bland scored twice on two walks. Starter Elijah Hammond threw five innings, allowing four runs, two of which were earned. Nolan King and CJ Jensik did not allow a run as Lehnen suffered his first loss of the season allowing three earned runs in 0.2 innings pitched. Cameron Miller picked up the win for the Vikings.
With the loss, the Cardinals' 2024 season comes to a close. North Central finished with an 18-23 record while going 11-9 in CCIW play.
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