John Michael Scumaci
Chris Kohley
11
Winner North Central (Ill.) NCC 17-16
3
Augustana (Ill.) AUGIE 17-15
Winner
North Central (Ill.) NCC
17-16
11
Final
3
Augustana (Ill.) AUGIE
17-15
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
North Central (Ill.) NCC 4 0 1 0 0 2 0 4 0 11 10 0
Augustana (Ill.) AUGIE 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 7 0

W: Rogers, Chris (2-3) L: J. Buckalew (1-2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Scumaci Grand Slam Propels Baseball Past Augie, 11-3

Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324

MOLINE, Ill. (Apr. 23, 2025) - John Michael Scumaci's first-inning grand slam lifted the North Central College baseball team to an 11-3 victory over Augustana on Wednesday night at Swanson Stadium.

The Cardinals' first three batters—Yuhki Yamada, Jackson Bland, and Parker Wyatt—reached safely to load the bases in the top of the first. Scumaci launched his sixth home run of the season over the left-field fence, giving North Central an early 4-0 lead.

Augustana responded with three straight singles in the bottom of the inning, cutting the deficit to 4-1.

In the third, Scumaci drew a one-out walk, advanced to second, and scored on Peyton Burgh's RBI single to extend the Cardinals' lead to 5-1. Augustana countered with a solo homer in the bottom of the frame, narrowing the margin to 5-2.

The Cardinals added two more runs in the sixth. Burgh led off with a single up the middle, and Andre Medina advanced him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Yamada's RBI single prompted a Viking pitching change, and Justin Lang scored on a passed ball to make it 7-2.
Starting pitcher Chris Rogers earned his second win of the season, allowing just four hits over five innings. Reliever Payton Diaz retired all three batters he faced in the sixth to keep Augustana off the board.

Lang's single in the seventh triggered another pitching change for the Vikings. He stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Austin Wienke's two-RBI single, which also drove in Bland. The Cardinals loaded the bases, and Caleb Coberley and Burgh each drew RBI walks to stretch the lead to 11-2.

Elijah Hammond pitched the final two innings for North Central, allowing one run and striking out two batters in the ninth to secure the victory.

The Cardinals improved to 17-16 overall, marking the first time they've been above .500 since opening day. Their conference record now stands at 8-5, putting them alone in third place.

Scumaci led the offense with two hits, four RBI, two runs scored, and two walks. Wienke and Burgh drove in two runs each, while Yamada, Bland, and Wyatt scored twice.

North Central returns to action Saturday with a doubleheader against Carroll University at Frame Park in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Game 1 begins at 1 p.m. The Cardinals have won eight of their last nine meetings with Carroll.
 
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