WESTFIELD, Ind. (Feb. 27, 2022) - Using a seven-run fifth inning, including a grand slam off the bat of Paul Beverly, the North Central College baseball team downed Heidelberg University 12-3 on Sunday at the Grand Park Tournament. This win marks head coach Ed Mathey's 700th career win between his time at North Central and Northern Illinois University.

Heidelberg put themselves ahead 1-0 in the top of the first inning before the Cardinals responded in the bottom half of the inning. Dom Listi singled and later scored after Justin Rios reached on an error. With the bases loaded, Beverly scored Rob Marinec and Rios to give North Central a 3-1 lead after one inning of play.

Following another Heidelberg run, Brent Swenson hit an RBI single to right field to plate Jared Wojcik in the bottom of the third. Starting pitcher Luke Lamm found his groove in the fourth and held them scoreless for the rest of his day.

The Cardinals added a run on a Wojcik sacrifice fly, as Listi scored on the fly ball to center field in the fourth.

To open the North Central side of the fifth, Swenson singled to left field and later scored thanks to a Michael Patterson RBI single. After Heidelberg made a pitching change, Listi, Marinec, and Rios each walked to load the bases and allow Patterson to score. Wojcik scored Listi on an error to take an 8-2 lead. Beverly stepped up to the plate and hit the Cardinals' first grand slam of the season as he opened the game up, 12-2 in the fifth.

Jason Shanner took over for Lamm in the sixth and finished the game out with four innings pitched, eight strikeouts while allowing one run and picking up the save. Lamm earned his second win of the season by throwing five innings and striking out five.

Beverly recorded six RBIs on the day as he went two-for-five at the plate. Listi scored three times in the game with two hits and a walk.   

This win extends the Cardinals' streak to five in a row. To see the full 2022 schedule, click HERE.