Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324
WESTFIELD, Ind. (Feb. 28, 2026) - Finishing off its opening weekend, the North Central College baseball team could not overcome a nine-run inning from Franklin College as the Grizzlies picked up a 12-6 win Saturday afternoon.
Pitchers dominated the early going with neither team scoring in the first four innings. Cardinal starting pitcher Gavin Gawronski struck out four without allowing a hit as the game was tied at 0-0 through four frames.
The first seven Franklin batters reached base safely in the bottom of the fifth inning as the Grizzlies surged to a 6-0 lead before recording their first out. A walk and hit by pitch led to a three-run home run, putting the hosts ahead 9-0. Jim Shortall recorded two final outs to escape with no more runs allowed.
North Central answered in the top of the sixth. Yuhki Yamada singled and stole second to put himself in scoring position. Parker Wyatt drove in the Cardinals' first run of the game with an RBI double. Caleb Smith entered the game for the first time in a Cardinal uniform and delivered an RBI single. Payton Diaz belted a two-run home run to bring North Central within five, 9-4.
The Grizzlies' offense kept the momentum as a double, a single and a fielder's choice plated two runs before another two-run single extended Franklin's lead, 12-4. The Grizzlies kept the Cardinal offense in check until the ninth inning. Diaz led off the top of the frame with his second home run of the day. After two Cardinals reached base on a hit by pitch and a walk, Jackson Bland drew an RBI walk to score Gavin Kleist. That would be all North Central could add to the scoring column as Franklin earned a 12-6 victory.
Diaz led North Central with four hits, three RBI, and two runs scored. Wyatt and Caleb Coberley each posted two hits on the day. Gawronski allowed six runs and five hits in his 4.0 innings of work. Diaz finished off the game with three runs allowed on six hits with three punchouts against the 16 batters he faced.
Luke Harmon earned the win for Franklin, throwing six innings with nine strikeouts and four runs allowed.
The Cardinals' game against Benedictine University, set for Sunday, has been postponed to a later date due to the weather forecast. North Central returns to the diamond Friday, Mar. 6, to begin a three-game series with the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Red Murff Field in Belton, Texas.
