Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
DECATUR, Ill. (Apr. 13, 2025) – Scoring their only two runs in the first inning, the North Central College baseball team never trailed in a 2-1 pitcher's duel as
Andrew Bollman and
Payton Diaz held Millikin University to just one run on Sunday at Workman Family Field.
Kolby Fujii led off the game with a single to right field. Caleb Coberley and John Michael Scumaci each singled to load the bases with no outs. Austin Wienke plated Fujii on a fielder's choice to give the Cardinals the lead. From third, Coberley scored on a wild pitch to put North Central on top, 2-0.
Bollman worked around two free passes in the second inning thanks to a double play from Weinke and Justin Lang to keep Millikin scoreless.
In the fourth, Eliot Fulscher tripled to being the bottom half of the inning. An RBI single from Ty Cribbett gave the Big Blue their first run of the game. Cribbett moved to third base, but Bollman limited the damage to keep the Cardinals on top, 2-1.
Diaz relieved Bollman in the sixth, posting a three-up, three-down frame. Jackson Bland and Peyton Burgh singled in the top of the seventh, but North Central could not tack on an insurance run.
Millikin used a lead off single and sacrifice bunt to put Kolby Kofloski into scoring position. Diaz settled in to set the next two batters down, holding the Cardinal lead. Diaz remained in control, posting back-to-back 1-2-3 innings to secure the 2-1 North Central victory and earn his third save of the season.
Bollman improves to 1-0 on the year, throwing five innings and allowing just four hits with two strikeouts and an earned run. Diaz struck out three in the final four innings, not allowing a run
The Cardinals continue conference play Wednesday, hosting Illinois Wesleyan University in the series finale. First pitch between the Cardinals and Titans is set for 5 p.m.
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