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

CHICAGO (May 2, 2025) – Taking game one of the series against North Park University, the North Central College baseball team held the Vikings to just two runs to earn a 5-2 victory on Friday afternoon in Chicago.

Starter Brian Duvall tossed three straight 1-2-3 innings to begin his outing on the mound for the Cardinals. In the top of the third, Andre Medina and Justin Land singled to put a runner in scoring position. After advancing to third on a deep foul out, Medina scored the game's first run on a balk by the Vikings pitcher.

North Park took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run home run from Alex DiVito. 

Yuhki Yamada singled in the sixth before a Parker Wyatt RBI single tied the contest at 2-2. Quickly breaking the tie was Austin Wineke with an RBI double to center field, plating Wyatt to put North Central ahead, 3-2.

Tacking on an insurance run in the seventh, Own Ziaja doubled and came around to score on a Medina RBI single down the left field line. In the eighth, John Michael Scumaci singled through the left side. After moving to second, Medina drove in his second run of the game on a single to score Sucmaci. 

Payton Diaz entered the game in the bottom of the eighth and picked up his sixth save of the season to secure the 5-2 victory for North Central.

Medina led the Cardinals with three hits and two runs on the day. Duvall threw seven innings with four strikeouts, allowing just two runs. Diaz posted a scoreless outing in his two innings of work. Griffin Self suffered the loss for the Vikings, allowing three runs in six innings.

North Central and North Park conclude their regular seasons Saturday as they will play a doubleheader beginning at noon at Butterfield Park in Elmhurst.

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