Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324
ELMHURST, Ill. (May 1, 2026) - Taking on Elmhurst University for the first time this season, the North Central College baseball team could not withstand a late push from the Bluejays, who claimed an 8-4 win Friday afternoon at Butterfield Park.
Payton Diaz opened with a scoreless first inning for the Cardinals. In the top of the second, Caleb Coberley and Luke Wallace drew back-to-back walks. Ryan Huskey moved both runners up on a groundout before Owen Ziaja delivered a two-run single to center field to give North Central a 2-0 lead.
Diaz retired six straight before Jacob Hoernschemeyer singled to right in the fourth. Ziaja walked, and both advanced on a wild pitch. Yuhki Yamada drove in Hoernschemeyer as the Cardinals added a run for a 3-0 advantage.
Elmhurst answered with two outs in the bottom half as Javier Cervantes and Rock Smith hit consecutive home runs to tie the game at 3-3. A third home run in the inning put the Bluejays ahead, 4-3.
Yamada created offense in the seventh after drawing a leadoff walk. He took second on a failed pickoff attempt, stole third and scored on a throwing error to bring North Central within one at 5-4.
Elmhurst responded with a three-run home run, its fourth of the game, to extend the margin to 8-4. The Cardinals recorded one hit over the final two innings as the Bluejays closed out the win.
Yamada drew three walks with a run and an RBI. Ziaja drove in two runs. Diaz took the loss, working 5.1 innings and allowing five runs with one strikeout. Gavin Rosengren and Gavin Gawronski each threw scoreless outings in relief.
North Central hosts Elmhurst on Saturday at 1 p.m. for a doubleheader to close the regular season. The Cardinals enter the day tied for sixth with Carthage College at 8-10 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. The top six teams qualify for the conference tournament. North Central holds the tiebreaker over Carthage after winning the season series. Carthage hosts Augustana College in a doubleheader Saturday.
