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

GRANVILLE, Ohio. (Mar. 15, 2025) – The North Central College baseball team held a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning, but No. 6 Denison University scored the game's final three runs as the Cardinals fell 5-3 on Saturday afternoon at Big Red Field.

Cardinal starter Chris Rogers worked around an error to keep the Big Red off the scoreboard in the first inning. Rogers struck out the first two batters in the second, but another North Central error allowed Denison to score in the bottom of the inning.

Caleb Coberely tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth inning, blasting his second home run of the season. Denison regained the lead with a squeeze play in the bottom half of the fourth, but Rogers escaped a bases-loaded jam to limit the damage.

In the fifth, Vincent Merlo led off with a single through the right side and advanced to second on a Justin Lang sacrifice bunt. John Michael Scumaci followed with North Central's second home run of the game, giving the Cardinals a 3-2 advantage.

A Denison two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth put the hosts back in front, 4-3. The Cardinals were held hitless for the remainder of the game as the Big Red added an insurance run in the sixth to secure the 5-3 victory.

Rogers took his second loss of the season, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing four runs on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Jaedin Kotecki allowed one run over 3.1 innings of relief. Nick Falter earned the win for Denison, while Michael Gray recorded the save.

North Central wraps up its spring break trip on Sunday against Adrian College at Big Red Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. (ET) as the Cardinals look to avenge a 3-2 loss to the Bulldogs last season.

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