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

CLEVELAND, Ohio (May 17, 2025) – Concluding its 2025 season in the NCAA Tournament, the North Central College baseball team fell to No. 16 Centre College, 13-5, on Saturday at Nobby's Ballpark on the campus of Case Western Reserve University. 

The Cardinals struck first for the second straight day as Caleb Coberley reached on a fielder's choice in the top of the first inning. After a Parker Wyatt double, Austin Wienke drove in Coberley on an RBI groundout to give North Central a 1-0 lead.

Brian Duvall worked out of a two-on, nobody out jam to force a 6-4-3 double play and keep the Colonels off the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning. Centre broke through in the second, racking up six hits and scoring five runs to take a 5-1 advantage after two innings of play. The Colonels tacked on two runs in the third, going ahead by six, 7-1.

North Central answered in the top of the fourth inning. John Michael Scumaci drew a leadoff walk. Following an Owen Ziaja single through the left side, Peyton Burgh launched a home run over the left field fence, bringing the Cardinals within three, 7-4.

Centre took advantage of a North Central error, adding two insurance runs and taking a 9-4 lead after four innings. Jaedin Kotecki settled in, holding the Colonel's scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings.

Justin Lang and Yamada reached safely to begin the top of the seventh inning. The Cardinal offense could not capitalize as the score remained at 9-4. Centre pushed across three runs in the bottom half of the frame, taking a seven-run lead, 12-4.

The North Central offense added a run in the ninth as Yamada scored on a fielder's choice from Wyatt. It would not be enough as Centre earned a 13-4 victory to stay alive in the NCAA Tournament.

Burgh tallied two hits and drove in three in the fourth inning on his fifth home run of the season. Coberley, Scumaci, Ziaja and Yamada each scored on the day. Duvall suffered the loss with seven runs allowed (five earned) in three innings of work. Ben Prather improved to 8-0 on the year for the Colonels.

The Cardinals end their 2025 season with a 26-19 overall record. North Central won its 11th College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Tournament before making the program's 14th NCAA Tournament appearance. 

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