Alex Silverthorne threw five perfect innings and Viking batters pounded out 15 hits as North Park cruised to a 14-6 win over Olivet College Sunday at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Florida.
Silverthorne sent down every batter he faced in a dominant five-inning performance, recording eleven groundouts, three strikeouts, and one fly ball out. He was staked to a 1-0 lead as Zak Worsley led off the first with a hit by pitch, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Eric Sousanes. After the Vikings were retired in order in the second for the only time in the game, they added an unearned run in the third (Worsley reached on an error, stole second and third, and came in on a throwing error). In the fourth they plated three more: Tommy Endres singled and later came in on a steal of third and another throwing error; Dan Sabin homered to left; and Mike Coduto came in on an infield hit by Tyler Woolbright, coupled by another error. The Vikings extended their lead to 7-0 in the fifth on a Joe Belmonte two-run double, which scored Sousanes and Endres.
The Comets did not see their first base runner until the sixth, when reliever Johnny Larson hit the leadoff batter, gave up a single, and issued a walk. Reliever Matt Peterson came on to record three outs, but not after a fielder's choice groundout that plated the first Olivet run. North Park answered with a single tally in their half of the sixth: Sousanes doubled, stole third, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Endres.
North Park broke the game open with four runs in the seventh for a 12-1 lead. A Mario Creecy single scored Coduto; a wild pitch allowed Woolbright to score; and Sousanes connected for a two-run single to drive in Creecy and Worsley.
Olivet mounted a two-run rally in the top of the eighth against reliever Charlie Moran, who allowed a walk and three singles. The Vikings wrapped up their scoring attack in the bottom of the inning as Belmonte and Sabin led off with back-to-back doubles and a base hit by Coduto brought in Sabin.
The Comets took advantage of some shaky fielding by some Viking reserves to plate three unearned runs on one hit off reliever Bobby Herrick. The Viking hurler worked through the missteps to close out the contest.
Silverthorne (1-0) picked up the win with his outstanding pitching effort. Sousanes (3-for-3, 3 RBIs, 2 runs), Endres (3-for-4, 1 RBI, 2 runs), Belmonte (2-for-5, 2 RBIs, 2 doubles), Sabin (2-for-5, 2 RBIs, 2 runs), Coduto (2-for-3, 1 RBI, 2 runs), and Creecy (2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 run) all had multi-hit performances for the Vikings. Also seeing some playing time were Christian Rodriguez, Alec Strachota, Greg Grana, Jordan Sidwell, Nate Clarke, Brody Burkart, and Dan Anderson.
The Vikings (3-4) look to reach the .500 mark tomorrow as they take on Lakeland College.