WHITEWATER, Wis. (May 17, 2019) – An eight-run bottom of the sixth inning did the North Central College baseball team in on Friday in the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Regional opener, eventually falling to the host Warhawks, 9-2 at James B. Miller Stadium.
 
The game began as a pitcher's dual between Austin Polezoes and Westin Muir through four innings, until UW-Whitewater (35-11) pushed across an unearned run with two outs in the bottom of the fifth as a Cardinal error led to the first run of the contest.
 
With the North Central offense generating just one base hit over the first six innings, the Warhawks caught fire in the bottom half of the sixth, sending 12 batters to the plate while stringing together eight hits, the biggest a bases clearing triple off the bat of Nick Santoro.  In total the Warhawks sent eight runners home to increase their lead 9-0 heading to the seventh.
 
The Cardinals (31-12) finally got to Muir as Colin Weilbacher and Joe Rizzo each singled to lead off the seventh, before Ryan Scott made it three straight with a base hit to left to load the bases with nobody out.
 
Following a strikeout, Weilbacher trotted home on a wild pitch to cancel the shutout attempt, while Michael Stoltzdrove in Rizzo with a RBI-fielder's choice, but that proved to be all the runs the offense would muster.
 
UW-Whitewater racked up 17 hits in the contest, led by three from each of Nick Schrader, Cal Aldridge and Alex Doud, while Santoro led the team with three RBI.
 
Rizzo recorded two of the five Cardinal hits and scored once, while Jeremy Quade finished 1-for-3 with a walk and stolen base.
 
Polezoes was pegged with the loss, falling to 5-3 on the season, allowing six runs, five earned, over 5 1/3 with two strikeouts and two walks.
 
Muir improves to 8-0 on the season, allowing the two earned runs on four hits over his eight innings, striking out nine while walking three.
 
North Central will face Bethany Lutheran College (Minnesota) tomorrow with their season on the line in an elimination game scheduled for 10 a.m. at James B. Miller Stadium.