Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324
Apr. 18, 2026 - The top four batters in the North Central College lineup scored all 11 runs as the Cardinals secured a crucial College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin victory, defeating Illinois Wesleyan University 11-6 Sunday afternoon at Zimmerman Stadium.
Payton Diaz worked around a leadoff single with two strikeouts to post a scoreless first inning. Yuhki Yamada opened the bottom half with a walk before a Luke Wallace single and Jackson Bland walk loaded the bases. Parker Wyatt capitalized on a Titans error to score Yamada. One pitch later, Caleb Coberley delivered a two-run single to plate Wallace and Bland. Another Illinois Wesleyan miscue allowed Wyatt to score from second as the Cardinals built a 4-0 lead.
Illinois Wesleyan cut the deficit in half in the second. A single, hit by pitch and walk loaded the bases for Matt Hudik, who drove in two runs on a single. Diaz limited the damage to preserve the lead.
North Central answered with a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning. Wallace reached on a single to left before Bland singled through the right side. A third Titans error allowed Wallace to score from first. With Bland on second, Wyatt drove him in on an RBI single to extend the advantage to 6-2.
Jack Flagg led off the third with a solo home run to left. Diaz worked out of a bases-loaded jam to keep the Cardinals in front, 6-3.
Diaz retired the side in order in the fourth. Yamada singled to start the bottom half, and Wallace's bunt single moved him to second. Yamada advanced to third on a double play. Wyatt followed with a two-out triple to left and scored on a wild pitch for an 8-3 lead.
A second solo home run added a run for the Titans in the fifth. Diaz delivered another three-up, three-down frame in the sixth. Illinois Wesleyan hit a third solo home run in the seventh, but Diaz retired the next two hitters to complete his outing.
Elijah Hammond entered in the eighth and held the Titans hitless. Yamada's bunt single forced another Illinois Wesleyan error as he moved to second. Wallace advanced him to third on a deep flyout before Bland reached on a fifth Titans error, allowing Yamada to score. Wyatt singled to extend the inning, and Coberley drove in Bland and Wyatt as North Central entered the ninth with an 11-5 lead.
A leadoff walk and two singles produced a run for Illinois Wesleyan in the ninth. Hammond induced a game-ending double play to close out the 11-6 win.
Yamada, Bland and Wyatt each scored three times. Coberley drove in four runs, and Wyatt finished with three RBI. Diaz improved to 3-3 after seven innings with four strikeouts. Hammond earned his fourth save, allowing one run over two innings.
North Central continues its final stretch Tuesday against Millikin University at Zimmerman Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
