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Contact: Drew Sauer, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Box Score

DECATUR, Ill. (Apr. 8, 2015) – Sneaking out a 5-4 victory in extra innings, the North Central College baseball team secured the season series sweep over Millikin University on Wednesday afternoon at Sunnyside Park.
 
With the score knotted 4-4 after nine innings, Chris Hill began the Cardinal rally with a lead off double down the left field line in the top of the tenth, his third double of the contest.  After Vito DeRango advanced Hill to third on a groundout to second,Jake Rone stepped to the plate and drove what would turn out to be the game-winning run home, shooting a RBI single down the left field line and giving North Central the decisive 5-4 lead.
 
Millikin (11-12, 3-6 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) took an early 1-0 lead as Cardinal starter Andrew Houserallowed a two-out run in the bottom of the first after surrendering a walk and a hit by pitch in the inning, but settled down to shut out the Big Blue offense over the next five innings.
 
In the top of the fourth, the Cardinals took the lead on a pair of two-out runs as Hill lined a double down the left field line and DeRango walked to extend the inning.  Rone promptly sent the pair home with a two-RBI double, giving North Central a 2-1 advantage.
 
North Central (13-10, 6-3 CCIW) extended its lead with two more runs in the top of the sixth as Hill and DeRango traded doubles to start the inning.  After Rone advance DeRango to third on a sacrifice bunt, Bobby Smith increased the lead 4-1 with a sacrifice fly to left.
 
The Big Blue were not to be undone, responding with two runs in the bottom of the seventh and another run in the eighth to even the score 4-4 and force extra innings.
 
Houser exited the contest in the seventh after allowing a pair of one-out singles that would come around to score later in the inning, finishing with a no-decision after allowing the three earned runs over 6 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking three.
 
Jordan Van Dyck earned the victory out of the bullpen, allowing just one hit over his three innings and striking out three, improving to 1-1 this season.
 
Hill, DeRango and Rone combined to go 7-for-12 on the afternoon, as Hill finished 3-for-5 with three doubles and three runs scored, while Rone was 3-for-4 with three RBI and DeRango finished 1-for-3 with two runs scored, a run batted in and a walk.
 
North Central plays host to Wheaton College on Friday, Apr. 10 in the opening game of the season series with first pitch slated for 3 p.m.