Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324
BLOOMINGTON, Ill (May 8, 2025) – Behind eight innings of one-run baseball from North Central College pitcher
Chris Rogers, the Cardinals held off the Carthage College ninth-inning rally to take a 3-2 victory on Thursday afternoon at Horenberger Field.
After a scoreless first inning from starter Chris Rogers, John Michael Scumaci led off the bottom of the second inning with a single up the middle. Caleb Coberley moved Scumaci to third base on a sacrifice bunt and a Firebird error. Owen Ziaja drove in the game's first run with an RBI fielder's choice.
In the third, Jackson Bland drew a leadoff walk before Austin Wienke singled through the left side. Following a sacrifice bunt from Henry Saul, Sumaci drove in Bland on an RBI single to add a run to the North Central lead, 2-0.
Rogers stayed in control of the Carthage bats, not allowing a hit until the third inning. He tossed a 1-2-3 inning in the fourth and sixth frames, his fourth three-up, three-down inning of the game.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Yuhki Yamada was hit by a pitch to keep the inning alive. A double off the bat of Bland plated Yamada from first, providing an insurance run for the Cardinals, who took a 3-0 lead.
Remaining in control, Rogers kept Carthage off the scoreboard in the seventh and eighth.
After a leadoff walk in the ninth, Payton Diaz relieved Rogers, who forced a pop-up to the first batter he faced. After an error from the Cardinals, the Firebirds pushed two runs across with the tying run on third base. Diaz forced a flyout to earn his eighth save of the season.
Rogers earned his third win of the season while striking out six Firebirds over his eight innings of work. Diaz's eighth save moves him to second place in program history for saves in a single season. Scumaci recorded a team-high two hits on the day.
The Cardinals advance to Friday of the CCIW Tournament, where they will face the host Illinois Wesleyan University with a trip to the CCIW Title game on the line. That game is set for 2 p.m. at Horenberger Field.
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