In a series that wound up getting spread over four days, the Carthage College baseball team (10-9, 3-2 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) wound up winning two-of-three from North Park University (7-14, 1-4 CCIW), thanks to an 18-9 decision over the Vikings on Wednesday, April 6 at Augie Schmidt Field in Kenosha, Wis.
Carthage took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI-single by Reed Hero that scored Jordan Wiegold. Zach Wade, running right behind Wiegold, was thrown out at the plate. North Park scored three in the second off starting pitcher Joe Nelson to take a 3-1 lead. The Red Men came right back with four runs in the bottom of the second to re-gain the lead at 5-3. Wiegold's two-run single was the big blow in the inning.
The Vikings scored four in the third to take a 7-5 lead. Ray Cekus hit a solo home run, followed by a two-run double by Mitchell Jordan and another run scored on a wild pitch. The Red Men scored twice in the bottom of the third to tie the game, 7-7. North Park took an 8-7 lead in the fourth, but Carthage came back with six in the bottom half gain the lead for good, 13-8. Jared Helmich's three-run homer was the big blow in the inning. The Vikings tallied a run in the fifth, but Reed Hero's two-run homer in the sixth upped the Red Men's lead to seven runs, 16-9. Carthage added two more in the seventh to close out the scoring at 18-9.
Carthage pitcher Brandon Hrdlicka (2-0), in relief of Joe Nelson, picked up the win by working the final six frames and allowing just two runs on five hits, two walks and three strikeouts. "Brandon Hrdlicka pitched a fabulous game after he came on in the fourth inning," said Carthage coach Augie Schmidt IV. "We really needed someone to step up like that. Jimmy Park (0-2), the first-of-five Vikings hurler took the loss and surrendered the first nine runs.
The Red Men continued to pummel to the ball at the plate, collecting 19 hits against the Vikings. Jordan Wiegold led the way with four hits in five at bats with three runs scored and three RBI. Reed Hero went three-for-six with three RBI, Jared Knoespel three-for-five with three runs scored, Anthony Fortunato three-for-five with four runs scored and three RBI and Jared Helmich two-for-five with four RBI.
"Playing Sunday night at North Park and finishing at Midnight has made this a rough week," admitted Schmidt. "We blew a big lead in that second game on Sunday, but the big thing is we won a series. That's what we preach. If you win each series, you'll get where you want to go. Sandwiched in between was the Wheaton doubleheader on Tuesday, where we can one great-pitched game and one not so good. We're stretched real thin at the moment. Pitcher Kyle Cibrario hurt his forearm in Tucson and is still out, and outfielder Drew Korosic, who might be our best player, is out with a hamstring injury.
Carthage opens key home series with first-place Illinois Wesleyan University (11-9, 4-1 CCIW) this Saturday, April 9 with a 1 p.m. twinbill, also at Augie Schmidt Field. "This series will be fun," said Schmidt, just like it's been fun for the last 29 years. It's always a battle. I like the way we're doing things, and I think we'll be fine now that the schedule settles down."