Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
Apr. 16, 2025 – Giving up all nine runs over a three-inning span, the North Central College baseball team dropped a 9-3 ballgame to Illinois Wesleyan University on Wednesday night at Zimmerman Stadium.
Both starting pitchers dominated in the early going, not allowing a run until the fifth inning. Chris Rogers posted three 1-2-3 innings over his first four frames.
In the bottom of the fifth, Peyton Burgh drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a Parker Wyatt single through the left side. Andre Medina plated the game's first run on an RBI single to center field. Head coach Ed Mathey drew up a safety squeeze for Justin Lang as Wyatt beat the Titans' throw home. After a pitching change, Medina scored on a double play to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead after five innings.
Illinois Wesleyan responded in the top of the sixth inning. Two hits, two walks, and an error led to two runs for the Titans. Elijah Hammond relieved Rogers and limited the damage as North Central held a 3-2 edge after six innings.
The Titan offense kept the momentum as two straight singles, followed by an error, evened the contest at 3-3. Another RBI single and sacrifice fly put Illinois Wesleyan ahead by two, 5-2, before a final RBI single in the frame gave the Titans a 6-3 advantage.
The visitors tacked on three more runs in the eighth on three hits, two walks and two wild pitches to take a 9-3 lead heading into the final inning of play. North Central went three-up, three-down as the Titans secured a 9-3 victory.
Medina led the Cardinals with two hits, a run and an RBI in his four plate appearances. Rogers threw 5.2 innings with five strikeouts and two runs allowed. Hammond suffered the loss, giving up four runs (two earned) in his 0.2 innings of work. Tyler Pritchard and Jaedin Kotecki each posted scoreless appearances. Luke Costello earned the win for the Titans, throwing five innings, allowing no runs with five strikeouts.
North Central takes a break from conference play on Saturday as the Cardinals host Concordia University Wisconsin for a doubleheader. Game one of the twin bill is set for noon at Zimmerman Stadium.
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