Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
MARIETTA, Ohio. (Mar. 8, 2025) – Taking on Hanover College for the first time in program history, the North Central College baseball team earned a comeback win over the Panthers Saturday afternoon as a
Peyton Burgh triple in the seventh inning gave the Cardinals the lead for good.
Following a scoreless half inning from starter Chris Rogers, Kolby Fujii led off with a single before advancing to third on a throwing error. Yuhki Yamada sent him home with an infield single. After an Austin Wienke walk, Henry Saul cleared the bases with a two-run triple to put the Cardinals ahead by three.
Hanover responded with a run in the top[ half of the second inning before tacking on another run in the third. North Central responded in the bottom of the third as Yamada scored from second base on a Panther error. Jackson Bland came around to score on a Wienke RBI single to center field to give the Cardinals a 5-2 advantage.
Rogers settled in on the mound, not allowing a run for the rest of his outing. Camden Loomis replaced Rogers in the sixth, posting a 1-2-3 inning. In the top of the seventh, Hanover took their first lead of the game, scoring four runs on two hits, a walk and a Cardinal error.
North Central answered in the bottom half of the seventh as Bland extended his reached base safely streak to 37 games with a leadoff walk. After Saul singled, Burgh hit a go-ahead triple to plate Bland and Saul. Caleb Coberley extended the Cardinal lead to two with an RBI single.
The Panthers threatened in the top of the ninth, but Payton Diaz picked up his first collegiate save, forcing a double play and a strikeout to secure an 8-6 win for North Central.
Saul led all batters with three hits while driving in two runs. Burgh's triple also plated two runs on the day. Rogers earned a no-decision in his five innings of work, striking out three and allowing two runs. Loomis earned the win, throwing three innings, allowing four runs (zero earned) and striking out two.
North Central continues its play at Marietta College's Pioneer Park by taking on Ohio Wesleyan University at 4:15 p.m. (ET).
Download the free North Central Cardinals app, available for iOS and Android devices, to receive up-to-the-minute news, scores and updates on your favorite North Central teams. Click HERE for more information.
