GLENDALE, Ariz. (Feb. 21, 2025) – Facing George Fox University for the first time since 2000 in the season opener, the North Central College baseball team used a four-run second inning to earn a 6-2 victory on Friday evening at Camelback Ranch.
After a 1-2-3 inning from Cardinal starter Elijah Hammond, Parker Wyatt hit a single to right field to provide North Central with its first base runner of the season. Wyatt moved to second base on a John Michael Scumaci sacrifice bunt to get into scoring position. Two wild pitches from the Bruins allowed Wyatt to score the game's first run and put the Cardinals ahead, 1-0.
Zach Carpita singled to kick off the bottom of the second inning. Wyatt and Scumaci belted back-to-back RBI doubles to add to North Central's lead, 3-0. With Scumaci on second, Jackson Bland extended his reached base safely streak to 31 with an RBI single to center field. Bland moved to second on a passed ball before coming around to score on a Payton Burgh single to left field as the Cardinals took a 5-0 advantage after two innings of play.
In the top of the fourth, George Fox used a double followed by a Carson Coulter home run to bring the Bruins within three. Hammond kept the Bruins in check in the fourth to keep the score at 5-2.
Henry Saul opened the bottom of the fifth frame with his first collegiate home run to increase the Cardinal lead to four, 6-2. AJ Kutcher relieved Hammond in the top of the sixth and worked out of a jam to keep George Fox off the board for the next three innings.
Kutcher kept his scoreless outing intact despite the Bruins loading the bases in the top of the ninth to secure a 6-2 victory for North Central in the season opener.
The Cardinals amassed 13 hits on the day as Parker scored two runs. Saul, Burgh, Bland, Scumaci and Parker all drove in a run offensively. On the mound, Hammond picked up the win, throwing five innings and allowing just two runs while striking out three. Kutcher secured the save with four innings and three strikeouts of scoreless baseball. For the Bruins, Caleb Debban fell to 0-2 with five innings of work, allowing six runs and 10 hits.
North Central continues the series against George Fox with a 1 p.m. (MT) first pitch tomorrow at Camelback Ranch.