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

GLENDALE, Ariz. (Feb. 23, 2025) – Wrapping up the three-game series against George Fox University, the North Central College baseball team fell behind early and never recovered in a 6-3 loss on Sunday at Camelback Ranch.

Brian Duvall registered four strikeouts over the first two innings of play in his first outing of the season. In the bottom of the second, Jackson Bland singled to begin the frame, extending his streak of reaching base safely to 33 games. The pitchers controlled the early action as neither team pushed a run across. 

The Bruins broke open the scoring in the top of the third with four runs on four hits and a walk to take a 4-0 lead. Owen Ziaja led off the bottom of the inning with a single through the right side. Ziaja advanced to third on a George Fox error and came around to score on a Kolby Fujii RBI single to right field. The Bruins tacked on two runs in the fourth inning, adding to their lead, 6-1. 

Ziaja reached on another George Fox error in the bottom of the sixth inning. John Michael Scumaci drove him home on an RBI double to center field, bringing North Central within four, 6-2.

Bland and Frankie Valli singled in the seventh, but North Central could not take advantage to head into the eighth inning behind by four. Andrew Bollman finished his scoreless outing before Nolan King finished off the frame with a strikeout by keeping the Bruins off the board. 

Justin Lang reached on a George Fox error and advanced into scoring position. Parker Wyatt cut the deficit to three with a sacrifice fly to right field. King kept the Bruins scoreless in the top of the ninth. Despite an Austin Wienke leadoff single, George Fox kept the Cardinals at bay to earn a 6-3 win.

Camden Loomis, Bollman and King closed the game with 5.2 innings of shutout baseball. Ziaja scored two runs for the Cardinals with Bland and Peyton Burgh racking up two hits each. Duvall suffered the loss, throwing 3.1 innings, allowing six runs while striking out four.

The Cardinals head to the Franklin College Classic on Friday for another three-game weekend. North Central begins the event by facing Ripon College on Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. (ET).

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