TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology scored five runs in the second and ninth innings and added six runs in the seventh to handle nationally ranked North Central College 20-1 in college baseball action on Thursday afternoon.
North Central entered the game with a 14-2 record and is ranked No. 13 nationally by the American Baseball Coaches Association and No. 18 by d3baseball.com in this week's Division III national top 25 polls. Rose-Hulman was receiving votes in both polls this week and served notice with a 22-hit performance that included crossing the 20-run mark for the first time this year.
Junior Drew Schnitz and senior Hazen Hamather led the hit parade with four hits each. Schnitz had four singles, scored three runs and had one RBI. Hamather also had four singles and scored twice.
Senior Patrick Klima and junior Zach Trusk contributed three hits and four RBIs each. Klima had a double, two singles and scored three runs, while Trusk was 3-5 with a double and one run scored.
Other key contributors to the offense included senior Kody Alayon with two runs scored and one RBI; junior Koby Close with two RBIs and one run scored; freshman David Burnside with two runs scored and a double; and freshman Davis Robeson with two runs scored and a single.
The offensive effort was supported by an equally strong pitching effort. Sophomore Joey Callahan scattered five hits over five innings with four strikeouts to pick up the victory. Gunnar Hutchison, Trevor Dallio and Ian Grant combined for four shutout innings to secure the win.
Rose-Hulman improved to 14-5 overall with its sixth consecutive win. The Fightin' Engineers have scored nine or more runs in every game this month to earn their first votes in a national poll this season. Rose-Hulman also earned its first win over a nationally ranked team since defeating Buena Vista in the 2014 NCAA Division III Regional.
The Fightin' Engineers return to action with a three-game home series on Saturday against Transylvania. The matchup begins with a 2 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday and includes a noon single game on Sunday.