WAUKESHA, Wis. (Apr. 10, 2022) - Racking up 20 hits on the day, the North Central College baseball team (20-5, 7-0 CCIW) scored three or more runs in five straight innings to power their way past Carroll University, 17-4 on Sunday afternoon at Frame Park.

After the Pioneers scored a run in the first inning, the Cardinals answered as Jack Oberli singled to left center to score Jared Wojcik and tie the game. With Oberli on first, Michael Davis belted his first home run of the season to put the Cardinals on top, 3-1.

Dom Listi doubled to left center to lead off the third inning and came around to score on a Paul Beverly RBI single. After Wojcik used a bunt single to reach first base, Justin Rios singled to plate Beverly and force the Pioneers starter, Drew McDermid, out of the game. Davis gave North Central a 6-1 advantage on a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Wojcik.

John Petty and Luke Lehnen walked to open the fourth inning and later scored on a Listi RBI single and a Pioneer balk, respectively. Coming around to score was Listi, thanks to an RBI single from Rios. Carroll scored their second run of the game in the bottom of the fourth to put the score at 9-2.

Scoring three runs for the fourth straight inning, North Central took advantage of two Pioneer errors and a wild pitch to take a 12-3 after the top half of the fifth.

Now with a 12-4 lead, Michael Patterson tripled to right center to plate Oberli. Scoring Patterson was Petty who singled to third base. After a Lehnen single, Listi posted his fourth hit of the day to bring home Petty and Lehnen. Beverly followed that up with a double of his own to score Listi as the Cardinals scored five runs with two outs in the sixth inning, taking a 17-4 lead.

CJ Jensik came in relief of starter Ryan Behling and closed out the game for North Central as the Cardinals improved to 20-5 and 7-0 in CCIW play. Behling earned his third win of the season as he allowed four runs and struck out six in his six innings pitched. Listi went 4-for-4 at the plate with four runs, three RBIs and a walk.

North Central travels to Elmhurst on Wednesday afternoon to continue CCIW action. The game is set for 3 PM at Sunnyside Park. You can find links to live stats and video for that game HERE.

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