Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324
RIVER FOREST, Ill. (Apr. 22, 2026) - Taking a break from conference play, the North Central College baseball team used five runs between the fifth and sixth innings and a steady bullpen effort to secure a 5-4 win over Concordia University Chicago.
Neither team scored in the first two innings as North Central starter Elijah Hammond worked two scoreless frames.
The Cougars opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the third. Brian Kud limited the damage, stranding two runners to keep Concordia Chicago to one run. The hosts added two more in the fourth on three hits and a walk for a 3-0 lead.
In the fifth, Yuhki Yamada and Luke Wallace were each hit by a pitch to start the inning. With two outs, Caleb Coberley delivered North Central's first run on an RBI single to center field. With the bases loaded, Ryan Huskey drew a walk to score Wallace and cut the deficit to 3-2.
Nathan Beers faced the minimum in the bottom half. Caleb Smith opened the sixth with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a Cougars error. Wallace reached on a fielder's choice and stole second. RBI singles from Jackson Bland and Parker Wyatt put the Cardinals ahead, 5-3.
Yacoub Rayan worked a scoreless seventh with a double play and a strikeout. Parker Eickhorst allowed one run in the eighth on a leadoff walk but held the lead. Eickhorst retired the side in order in the ninth to close out the Cardinals' 5-4 victory.
North Central turned three double plays. Coberley drove in two runs, while Bland and Wyatt each added an RBI. Wallace scored twice. Beers earned the first win of his college career with two scoreless innings.
North Central hosts a triangular Saturday with the Milwaukee School of Engineering and Wabash College. Game one begins at 11 a.m. and includes alumni day, honoring the 1986, 1991, 1996, 2016 and 2021 North Central baseball teams. Following a neutral-site game at Zimmerman Stadium, the Cardinals face Wabash at 6 p.m.
